Bhupen Hazarika begins his last journey

Thousands of mourners lined up to pay their last respects as cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika’s last journey from the historic Judges Field to his final resting place at the Gauhati University began amidst tight security on Wednesday

The gates of the Judges Field, where his body was kept inside a glass casket and draped in traditional Assamese 'gamosa', was closed to the public at 5am to allow his family members to spend sometime with the maestro's body before his final journey.

Tez, a practising Buddhist, will perform the last rites as per the Hindu traditions.

Hazarika will be cremated with full state honours his final resting place at the Gauhati University. The Assam government has declared a state holiday.

Assam Governor J B Patnaik, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Union DONER Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar, who is representing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj are among the thousands of mourners who are attending the last rites of the maestro.