Nelson Mandela's memorial service

Crowds mass in South Africa to bid farewell and honour Nelson Mandela
In an outpouring of praise, memory and celebration, scores of leaders from around the world, including President Barack Obama, joined tens of thousands of South Africans in a vast rainswept soccer stadium here Tuesday to pay common tribute to Nelson Mandela, whose struggle against apartheid inspired his own country and many far beyond its borders.

Sanskrit Shlokas recited at Nelson Mandela's memorial service
Sanskrit Shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita were recited today at a historic memorial service for anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

Boos, jeers humiliate South Africa's Jacob Zuma at Nelson Mandela memorial
South African President Jacob Zuma was booed and jeered at a memorial to anti-apartheid legend Nelson Mandela on Tuesday, a major public humiliation in front of other world leaders six months before national elections.

Barack Obama, Raul Castro shake hands as world says farewell to Nelson Mandela
US President Barack Obama shook hands with Cuba's Raul Castro at a memorial for Nelson Mandela on Tuesday.

President Pranab Mukherjee at Nelson Mandela's farewell
Join South Africa in paying homage to their beloved Madiba.
For India, it represents departure of great soul.
We pray for his eternal peace.
Lived a life of sacrifice, pursued a seemingly impossible goal for his people.
The world is richer with his legacy.
In 1995, when he visited India as the first President of post-apartheid Africa, he visited Sabarmati Ashram to pay his homage to Mahatma Gandhi.
Mandela reminded us of the principles that Mahatma Gandhi stood for
Nelson Mandela continued non-violence struggle with pride
Mandela epitomised an uncommon humanness. For us, he was a visionary.
We in India attach great sentiment to our unique relationship with South Africa.
He acknowledged influence of Gandhi and Nehru on his thought process.
We share your sense of loss today.
Madiba taught us the true meaning of peace and reconciliation in building a rainbow nation.
Jai Hind.

US President Barack Obama at Nelson Mandela's farewell
He was a man of flesh and blood, a son and a husband, a father and a friend.
We can learn from him, that nothing he achieved was inevitable.
Mandela showed us the power of action.
Madiba disciplined his anger and channeled his desire to fight with his organisation so that men and women could stand up for God-given rights.
He fought against White domination and he fought against Black domination.
He lived for an ideal and was prepared to die for it.
He taught us the importance of ideas and reason. The reason to argue.
He understood that ideas could not be contained within prison walls.
He used the decades in prison to sharpen his ideas and conviction.
Mandela demonstrated that ideas are not enough. He was practical.
He was not afraid to compromise for the sake of a larger role.
The Constitution that he visioned guaranteed multi-racial democracy.
Madiba last great liberator of the 20th century.
He taught millions to find truth within themselves.
He taught us to trust others so that others can trust you.
He changed laws, but he also changed hearts.
Madiba's passing is a time of mourning and the time to celebrate a heroic life.
It's also a time for self-reflection. We must ask how well have I applied his lessons in my own life.
It's a question I have asked myself as a man and as US president.
In America and in South African, the struggles for equality and universal franchise are important.
We see children suffering from hunger and disease.
Men and women are still in prison for their political beliefs and how they worship and who they love, and it's all happening today.
So we too must act on behalf of peace and justice.
There are too many leaders who claim Madiba's solidarity with the oppressed.
South African shows we can change and we can choose a world defined not by conflict but love and justice.
We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. Let us surge for his largeness of spirit.
Let us think of Madiba and the words that comforted him within the prison walls: "I am the master of my fate, captain of my soul."
God bless Nelson Mandela. God bless the people of South Africa.

Nelson Mandela farewell: President Pranab Mukherjee among six heads of state to address service
President Pranab Mukherjee is one of six world leaders who will address a memorial service being held at a Johannesburg stadium to celebrate Nelson Mandela's gift for uniting enemies across political and racial divides.

Former UN chief Kofi Annan with South Africa's archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu

Irish band U2's lead singer Bono and South African actress Charlize Theron at the service

Putin compares Nelson Mandela to Gandhi, Solzhenitsyn
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday paid tribute to Nelson Mandela, comparing him to Mahatma Gandhi and Soviet dissident and Nobel prize-winning author Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

Pranab Mukherjee one of the six Heads of State who will address the crowd at the Mandela memorial.

Leaders gather, thousands sing in rain in farewell to Nelson Mandela
World leaders from US President Barack Obama to Cuba's Raul Castro joined thousands of South Africans to honour Nelson Mandela on Tuesday in a memorial that will celebrate his gift for uniting enemies across political and racial divides.