<p>A sea of humanity descended on Chennai to bid a tearful farewell to Dravidian legend and five-time chief minister M Karunanidhi, who was buried on the historic Marina Beach next to the resting place of his political mentor C N Annadurai.</p>.<p> Karunanidhi’s body, in his trademark white shirt and dhoti, dark glasses and signature yellow shawl, which was placed inside a sandalwood coffin, was lowered into the ground at around 7 pm. The Dravidian tradition that claims to have nothing to do with Hindu customs, mandates that a person is buried after death with sandalwood and rose water.</p>.<p>The DMK chief’s son and political successor M K Stalin and family members cried inconsolably and paid their last respects to Karunanidhi thrice at the burial site – immediately after the body was taken out of the glass coffin, after it was placed inside the sandalwood coffin and after the casket was lowered into the ground. </p>.<p>Karunanidhi’s mortal remains were kept at Rajaji Hall, where the bodies of M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa were also kept for public viewing, for nearly 12 hours to enable the cadre and leaders to pay their respects. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a host of leaders from across the political spectrum flew to Chennai and paid their last respects.</p>.<p>As former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu looked on, Karunanidhi was given a burial, according to the Dravidian customs, with full military honours. As a military band played the Last Post, the former chief minister was given a 21- gun salute.<br /> </p>
<p>A sea of humanity descended on Chennai to bid a tearful farewell to Dravidian legend and five-time chief minister M Karunanidhi, who was buried on the historic Marina Beach next to the resting place of his political mentor C N Annadurai.</p>.<p> Karunanidhi’s body, in his trademark white shirt and dhoti, dark glasses and signature yellow shawl, which was placed inside a sandalwood coffin, was lowered into the ground at around 7 pm. The Dravidian tradition that claims to have nothing to do with Hindu customs, mandates that a person is buried after death with sandalwood and rose water.</p>.<p>The DMK chief’s son and political successor M K Stalin and family members cried inconsolably and paid their last respects to Karunanidhi thrice at the burial site – immediately after the body was taken out of the glass coffin, after it was placed inside the sandalwood coffin and after the casket was lowered into the ground. </p>.<p>Karunanidhi’s mortal remains were kept at Rajaji Hall, where the bodies of M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa were also kept for public viewing, for nearly 12 hours to enable the cadre and leaders to pay their respects. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a host of leaders from across the political spectrum flew to Chennai and paid their last respects.</p>.<p>As former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu looked on, Karunanidhi was given a burial, according to the Dravidian customs, with full military honours. As a military band played the Last Post, the former chief minister was given a 21- gun salute.<br /> </p>