Live: Thousands bid emotional farewell as Manohar Parrikar's son lights funeral pyre

Manohar Parrikar, Goa chief minister and former defence minister of the country, died on Sunday after suffering a prolonged ailment. He was 63.

The entire country plunged into united grief on Sunday after Manohar Parrikar died at age 63. The Goa Chief Minister and the former defence minister of the country was suffering from a prolonged illness since February of 2018.

Parrikar, a graduate from IIT-Bombay, was also a RSS pracharak before entering electoral politics in 1994 and winning from the Panaji constituency for BJP. He served as the Goa CM on four occasions and was also the defence minister of the country between November of 2014 and March of 2017.

Seen as a political leader with mass acceptance, he was also much liked - and much admired - by BJP workers and fellow BJP leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his condolence message, hailed Parrikar as a true patriot.

Parrikar's death leaves an entire country in grief with the national flag in Delhi and other state capitals at half-mast all of Monday. A national mourning has been declared. 

18 March 2019

17:44 IST

Manohar Parrikar cremated with full military honours. He was accorded gun salute too.

17:40 IST

Pics from the last rites ceremony of late Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Panaji: Visuals from the last rites ceremony of late Goa Chief Minister #ManoharParrikar. pic.twitter.com/LrdsXHmRuB

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019

17:35 IST

The final rites of Manohar Parrikar are being performed. He is being accorded a state funeral. Several leaders are lined up to pay their last respects, including Vijai Sardesai, Congress leader Girish Chodonkar, MPs Narendra Sawaikar and Shripad Naik, Ramdas Athawale, Suresh Prabhu, NSA Ajit Doval and BJP chief Amit Shah.

17:26 IST

Manohar Parrikar's mortal remains have reached Miramar beach. Last rites currently taking place in presence of family, leaders and thousands of supporters.

17:11 IST

US and Russia have condole Parrikar’s death with United States Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, tweeting: “Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go to the family and friends of Manohar Parrikar, Goa Chief Minister and former Indian Defence Minister. He was greatly respected by the United States, and his loss will be deeply felt.”

Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev also expressed his deepest condolences to Parrikar’s family and tweeted, “Your party and India have lost a charismatic leader, an eminent politician and a statesman of perfect integrity, whose role in political and social life was significant and inspiring. In his capacity as Defence Minister, he contributed greatly to the development of the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation between our two countries and will be remembered in Russia as a true friend."

17:09 IST

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari leaves for the funeral site.

17:05 IST

The final journey of late Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has started towards Miramar beach with thousands of mourners walking behind the mortal remains of the departed soul.

16:51 IST

Home Ministry announced that Manohar Parrikar would be accorded a state funeral with full military honours. 

16:49 IST

An artist from Amroha, Mohammad Zuhaib, pays tribute to ate Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar by making a charcoal portrait.

An artist from Amroha, Mohammad Zuhaib, pays his last respects to late Goa Chief Minister #ManoharParrikar by making a charcoal portrait. pic.twitter.com/QsZUuB8wYZ

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 18, 2019

16:49 IST

An artist from Amroha, Mohammad Zuhaib, pays tribute to ate Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar by making a charcoal portrait.

An artist from Amroha, Mohammad Zuhaib, pays his last respects to late Goa Chief Minister #ManoharParrikar by making a charcoal portrait. pic.twitter.com/QsZUuB8wYZ

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 18, 2019

16:47 IST

Goa BJP spokesperson said that Parrikar’s last rites will be performed at 5pm at the Miramar beach in Panaji, next to the memorial of Goa’s first chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar.

16:42 IST

BJP president Amit Shah landed in Goa Goa to attend Manohar Parrikar's final journey.

16:40 IST

Thousands of mourners are pressent in streets of Goa to bid goodbye to Manohar Parrikar, who died on Sunday after prolonged illness.

15:20 IST

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pays her last respects to departed Goa chief minister Manohar Parikkar.

15:12 IST

The department of tourism, Goa, has cancelled annual spring festival Shigmo scheduled between March 21 and 24 as a mark of respect for Manohar Parrikar.

15:09 IST

The Haryana government declared a one-day state mourning on Monday as a mark of respect to Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

14:49 IST

Smriti Irani breaks down as she pays homage to Parrikar.

14:31 IST

PM Modi pays homage to Parrikar. He also speaks to members of Parrikar's family, including his son and brother.

PM Modi is accompanied by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Goa Governor Mridula Sinha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Governor Mridula Sinha meet family of Goa CM #ManoharParrikar, in Panaji. pic.twitter.com/X11DkUJofU

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019

14:09 IST

PM Narendra Modi reaches Goa, will pay his final respects to Parrikar.

13:07 IST

Congress delegation with Goa Governor:

#Goa: Congress delegation meets Governor Mridula Sinha in Panaji. pic.twitter.com/pjQhHcwHxx

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019

12:30 IST

Goa may be heading for President's Rule even as a Congress delegation is on its way to meet the Governor.

12:29 IST

An announcement regarding Goa's next CM to be made around 1400hrs today. Swearing-in could take place after 1500hrs. Pramod Sawant, Vishwajit Rane front-runners are: PTI

12:03 IST

Meanwhile, the race to be the next Goa CM is hotting up with Goa Speaker Pramod Sawant being seen as the frontrunner.

However, Zee News' Pratap Naik reports - quoting sources - that Goa Forward and MGP are fine with Assembly being in suspended animation if the deadlock over CM choice continues.

11:33 IST

Mortal remains of Parrikar being taken to Kala Academy from BJP office.

11:09 IST

Hundreds of people gather at BJP office to pay their final respects to Parrikar. Many more are waiting outside the office.

Goa: People gather at BJP office in Panaji to pay last respects to late Goa CM #ManoharParrikar pic.twitter.com/2jQpNMG60R

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019

10:49 IST

IIT-Bombay to hold condolence meet for alumnus Parrikar. (Read full story here)

10:41 IST

Union minister Nitin Gadkari at BJP office to pay homage to Parrikar.

10:09 IST

The next CM of Goa is likely to be announced by Monday evening, says Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo.

09:51 IST

Mortal remains of Parrikar being taken to BJP headquarters in Panjim.

09:31 IST

Mortal remains of Parrikar reaches BJP headquarter in Panaji.

09:30 IST

PM Narendra Modi will reach Goa by 1330 hrs. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadanvis to reach by 1430 hrs.

09:29 IST

Parrikar to be accorded state funeral with full military honours at Miramar beach: PTI

09:12 IST

Preparations underway for Parrikar's final journey:

Visuals from outside the residence of #ManoharParrikar in Panaji, Goa. pic.twitter.com/5M6lzmaVWv

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019

09:11 IST

High Court of Bombay at Goa and District Courts in the state to remain closed today: ANI

08:10 IST

Congress has staked claim to form the government in Goa. (Read full report here)

07:11 IST

Who will be the new CM of Goa?

The death of Parrikar has left a void in Goa politics with an emergency meeting of the coalition partners taking place on Sunday. It has been learnt that allies of BJP have been demanding the CM's post. (Read full report here)

06:38 IST

Program plan of Manohar Parrikar's final journey today:

9:30 AM to 10:30 AM: Shri. Manohar Parrikar's mortal remains to be kept at the BJP head office, Panjim.

10:30 AM: Shri. Manohar Parrikar’s mortal remains to be taken to Kala Academy, Panjim. 

11:00 AM to 04:00 PM: Public to pay their final respects to Shri. Manohar Parrikar.

04:00 PM: Funeral procession of Shri. Manohar Parrikar to Miramar

04:30 PM: Vidhi at MIramar, Panaji. 

05:00 PM: Antim Kriya of Shri. Manohar Parrikar.: Location changed for Antim Kriya from campal to Miramar

06:37 IST

A seven-day state mourning has been declared in Goa.

HSC exams in Goa, scheduled for today (Monday) have been postponed.

06:30 IST

Although he did make the occasional public appearance in the last few months, Parrikar was largely recuperating at his residence in Dona Paula.

06:29 IST

Parrikar was suffering from a pancreatic ailment since early 2018 and it is for this that he had even gone to the US. He had also received treatment in Mumbai and Goa.