Last consignment of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes immersed

The last consignment of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in the Arabian Sea on his 6oth death anniversary on Wednesday. The ritual was performed by Nilamben Parikh, granddaughter of Gandhiji's estranged son Harilal. Nilamben emptied the urn filled with ashes into the sea and rinsed the pot. Earlier in 1948 and in 1997, Bapu's ashes were immersed in the rivers by his sons Manilal, Ramdas and Devdas. During the rituals on Wednesday, abour 15 descendents of Mahatma Gandhi's sons gatheered at the venue.

Although barely 500 people were present on the auspicious occasion, some promient leaders including Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Maharashtra Dy. CM R R Patil, governor S M Krishna, and congress leader Priya Dutt attended the ceremony.