Durban:
The ashes of the Indian Independence leader Mahatma Gandhi werescattered in Durban harbour, South Africa, on Saturday, in a belatedceremony 62 years after his death.
According to the Gandhi family, the ashes had been held in secret by a South African based friend until her recent death.
Afterhis assassination in 1948, Gandhi's ashes were divided and sent tovarious corners of the globe - one of the urns came to South Africawhere Gandhi had once lived and practised law.
The friend whohad the ashes reportedly helped with the original South Africanmemorial and kept a small portion of the ashes as a keepsake. They wererecently returned to the Gandhi family.
Saturday's ceremonyfollowed the traditional Hindu customs. The ashes were immersed in thesea from a boat in the harbour. Afterwards, people threw flowers andcandles into the water to mark the iconic leader's life and death.
According to the Gandhi family, the ashes had been held in secret by a South African based friend until her recent death.
Afterhis assassination in 1948, Gandhi's ashes were divided and sent tovarious corners of the globe - one of the urns came to South Africawhere Gandhi had once lived and practised law.
The friend whohad the ashes reportedly helped with the original South Africanmemorial and kept a small portion of the ashes as a keepsake. They wererecently returned to the Gandhi family.
Saturday's ceremonyfollowed the traditional Hindu customs. The ashes were immersed in thesea from a boat in the harbour. Afterwards, people threw flowers andcandles into the water to mark the iconic leader's life and death.
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