62 years after his death, Gandhi's last rites in Durban

Durban: The ashes of the Indian Independence leader Mahatma Gandhi werescattered in Durban harbour, South Africa, on Saturday, in a belatedceremony  62 years after his death.

According to the Gandhi family, the ashes had been held in secret by a South African based friend until her recent death.

Afterhis assassination in 1948, Gandhi's ashes were divided and sent tovarious corners of the globe - one of the urns came to South Africawhere Gandhi had once lived and practised law.

The friend whohad the ashes reportedly helped with the original South Africanmemorial and kept a small portion of the ashes as a keepsake. They wererecently returned to the Gandhi family.

Saturday's ceremonyfollowed the traditional Hindu customs. The ashes were immersed in thesea from a boat in the harbour. Afterwards, people threw flowers andcandles into the water to mark the iconic leader's life and death.