Ashes of Biju’s wife immersed in river

Ashes of Gyana Patnaik, wife of Biju Patnaik were immersed in the waters of river Mahanadi in Cuttack in the presence of younger son and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, his family members and others.

Ashes of Gyana Patnaik, wife of Biju Patnaik were immersed in the waters of river Mahanadi in Cuttack on Wednesday in the presence of younger son and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, his family members and others.

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Hundreds of people chanted ‘Gyana Patnaik amar rahe´ on the banks of river at Biju Patnaik ghat as her elder son Prem immersed the urn containing ashes.

Naveen Patnaik accompanied his elder brother in performing the last rites.

Earlier the urn were brought to Orissa from Naveen Nivas in Bhubaneswar and taken accross Cuttack in a flower-bedecked vehicle.

A sombre looking Chief Minister, head shaven to mourn the death of his mother, walked by the side of the vehicle along with other family members.

A large crowd, which included BJD activists of the city, received the urn and paid last tribute at various points.

The urn was later taken to Ananda Bhavan, the ancestral home of the legendary leader at Biju Patnaik Chak, where it was kept for a brief period before it was immersed in the “sacred” Mahanadi.

Gyana Patnaik had passed away in New Delhi on February 16 and was cremated at Puri Swargadwar on February 18.