Summary:
KANPUR: Amid chanting of mantras, the 'asthis' (urn containing ashes) of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was immersed at Patthar Ghat in Bithoor on Friday evening. Nandita Mishra and others immersed 'asthis' of late PM at Patthar Ghat in Ganga at around 6 pm. People also formed a human chain at several places and showered rose petals at the 'asthi kalash'.There was a huge crowd at Patthar Ghat at the time of asthi immersion. The programme was delayed by around three hours as the 'Asthi Kalash' reached Jajmau at around 2.15 pm against the scheduled time of 11.30 am. Vajpayee's niece Nandita Mishra, her husband Sumit, grand-daughter Rekha Pandey, grandson Abhishek Pandey, friend Devarshi Sharma, cabinet ministers Satya Dev Pachauri, Satish Mahana , Archana Pandey, Suresh Khanna and others were present at the dais.As many as 11 pundits (priests) recited mantras and performed rituals..