'Asthi Kalash Yatra' for VHP patron Ashok Singhal; mortal remains to be immersed

Lucknow: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad will take out 'Asthi Kalash Yatras' from Monday during which the funerary urns of Ashok Singhal, who served as its president for over 20 years, would be immersed in 50 different rivers across the country.

"The VHP will start the 15-day long yatra from tomorrow during which Singhal's mortal remains will be immersed in 50 different rivers across the country," VHP state spokesman Sharad Sharma told PTI.

In Uttar Pradesh, the yatra would begin from Prayag.

"On November 27, the yatra will start from Lucknow and culminate at Ayodhya, where the ashes will be immersed in the Saryu river," Sharma said.

Singhal's funerary urns would be put on display at places like Barabanki and Faizabad. The ashes would be immersed in Mathura, Varanasi, Chitrakoot, Kanpur and Gorakhpur on different dates, he said.

"For Singhal, Ayodhya was his 'karmasthali'...The basic purpose of organising these yatras is to remind the people of his firm resolve to get a temple constructed in Ayodhya," he said.

89-year-old Singhal had died on November 17 following cardio-vascular failure and septicaemia after he was admitted to a hospital in Gurgaon with complaints of acute breathlessness and pneumonia.

The mortal remains of the VHP leader were consigned to flames at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi the next day.