Gyan Patnaik cremated at Swargadwar

PURI: The mortal remains of Gyan Patnaik were consigned to flames at Swargadwar here on Wednesday, in the presence of thousands of people.
Prem Patnaik, the eldest son of Gyan and Biju Patnaik, lit the funeral pyre as the surroundings reverberated with vedic chants. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, the youngest son of Gyan and Biju, and Prem's son Arun were the other family members at the funeral.The legendary couple's only daughter Gita Mehta, who is a well-known writer, performed rituals at the family's residence, Naveen Nivas, in Bhubaneswar, but in keeping with tradition did not go for the cremation.
After a large number of people paid tributes at Naveen Nivas in the morning, the body was taken in a flower-decorated carriage to Puri in the afternoon with hundreds of four-wheelers forming a cavalcade and large number of public lining up the roadsides.
Amid slogans of "Gyan Patnaik amar rahe" and heavy security presence, the procession proceeded straight to Swargadwar along the beach. Gyan's cremation was done close to the Biju Samadhi Pith. Biju had died in April 1997.
Most of the senior BJD leaders including ministers A U Singhdeo, Surendranath Nayak, Surya Patra, Sanatan Bisi, Pramila Mallick, Debi Mishra, Raghunath Mohanty, Rajya Sabha members Pyari Mohan Mohapatra and Baijayant Panda, Puri MP Braja Tripathy, Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty, party secretary-general Damodar Rout and BJD youth wing convenor Sanjay Dasburma paid their homage to Gyan, who passed away in New Delhi on Tuesday at the age of 89 after ailing for sometime. Her body was brought to Bhubaneswar on Tuesday evening.
A host of senior BJP leaders including state party president Suresh Pujari, industries minister B B Harichandan and cooperation minister Surama Padhi were present. Earlier on Tuesday evening, Governor M C Bhandare and OPCC chief K P Singhdeo visited Naveen Nivas and expressed his condolences to Naveen. Singhdeo recalled his personal association with Gyan Devi and said, "She was an exemplary personality. She had friendly relationship with my mother Ratnaprava Devi. I have nostalgic memories of Biju Patnaik and her addressing me with affection as Baby. Her passing away is a personal loss to me."
Officials in Bhubaneswar said Naveen's official engagements have been cancelled till February 26.