As the nation mourns his demise, the last journey of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi began with thousands of people paying homage to their 'Thalaivar' (leader) on Wednesday. Slogans like 'Kalaignar pugazh vazhga vazhgavey' (long live the glory of Karunanidhi) rent the air as tri-service personnel lifted the glass casket containing the mortal remains and walked up to the flower-bedecked military gun carriage (rpt gun carriage). The five-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's mortal remains were moved from Rajaji Hall to Marina beach in Chennai, where the last rites were conducted.
Sobbing family members, including the late leader's sons M K Stalin and Tamizharasu, paid homage to the iconic Dravidian leader. The military gun carriage (rpt military gun carriage) inched its way to the Marina beach about 1.7 km from Rajaji Hall with thousands of people lining up on the roads to catch a last glimpse of the departed leader.