Dharam Singh cremated with State honours

Former chief minister Dharam Singh was created with full State honors at his Nelogi farm, Jevargi taluk The cremation rituals followed the Rajput Arya Vedic system Dharam Singh’s elder son MLA Vijay Singh lit the pyre with sandalwood log The body was covered in national flag and 3 rounds were fired

Former chief minister Dharam Singh was created with full State honours at his Nelogi farm, Jevargi taluk on Friday. The cremation rituals followed the Rajput Arya Vedic system. Dharam Singh’s elder son MLA Vijay Singh lit the pyre with sandalwood log. He was assisted by his brother Dr Ajay Singh in conducting all rituals, reports Kannada Prabha.

The cremation called Mukti Homa was readied with three quintals of sandalwood, 6  kg ghee and 20 kg dry copra and other materials. Before the pyre was lit, the body was covered in national flag and 3 rounds were fired in air to give  a 21 gun salute. The national anthem was played. Deepak Bhat and his team from Ganigapura and Vishvashrava Acharya of Kalburgi Arya Samaj conducted the Arya Vedic rituals. Dharam Singh’s elder son Vijay Singh had a dip in the near by Bhima River and conducted all the rituals guided by the priests.

Before the body was brought out of the ambulance the local people gathered and placed 300 sandalwood logs. The body was placed on the pyre at 5 pm. For 30 minutes rituals were conducted and at 5.30 Vijay Singh lit the pyre with a sandalwood log. The huge crowd that had gathered to pay their last respects to their dear leader was very moved when Dr Ajay Singh acknowledged their blessings teary eyed. Dharam Singh’s close friend and political peer Mallikarjuna Kharge could not control his tears when Dharam Singh’s wife Prabhavathi Singh cried to him that his friend has left him. The funeral was attended by a large number of dignitaries and seers of various mutts.