Late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy was buried on Friday near his home in Kadappa district. Massive crowds turned up for the funeral.
"YSR is not dead. He will remain alive in our hearts for ever," said one of the supporters standing at the venue.
The crowds that came to bid farewell to YSR were evidence of the popularity he enjoyed in Andhra Pradesh. Before being taken to his native place Idupulapaya, YSR's body was kept at Lal Bahadur stadium in Hyderabad.
It was in this very stadium that YSR had taken his oath as Chief Minister a second time round a little over a 100 days ago.
In 2003, YSR had undertaken a 1500-km padyatra to go and meet people in villages across the state. It was now the turn of the villagers, who turned up in thousands, to come and meet him for the last time.
Political leaders cutting across partylines were in Hyderabad to pay their last respects. Late in the afternoon, the body was shifted to his native Kadapa district that is expected to be renamed after YSR very shortly.
YSR often referred to Idupulapaya as his favourite holiday spot. So, whenever he wanted to take a break from official work, he would come down here.
And now when he is no more, Idupulapaya will be a pilgrimage centre for all those who idolised him.
