Marking the end of a golden era in Indian music, legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle was cremated with full state honours at Mumbai’s iconic Shivaji Park on Monday.
‘Asha Tai’, as she was affectionately known, passed away on Sunday, April 12, at the age of 92 due to multi-organ failure following a cardiac arrest.
She had been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital a day earlier, suffering from extreme exhaustion and a chest infection.
The Maharashtra government accorded the veteran singer a state funeral, a tribute reserved for those who have made monumental contributions to the nation.
The ceremony mirrored the farewell given to her elder sister, the late Lata Mangeshkar, at the same historic venue.
Her mortal remains were kept at her residence in Lower Parel from 11 am to 3 pm to allow fans and celebrities to pay their last respects.
Thousands of emotional fans lined the streets of Mumbai as the funeral procession made its way to Dadar. At around 5 pm, amid a sombre atmosphere, she was cremated with a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour by the Maharashtra Police.
Political leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, and ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Ashish Shelar, Bharat Gogawale, and Sanjay Shirsat, were present at the funeral to pay their final respects. MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai also attended.
Several members of the film fraternity, including actor Aamir Khan, attended the cremation and expressed profound grief over the loss of one of music history’s most versatile voices.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Asha Bhosle Ji. Her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his condolence message, the IANS reported.
From the film industry, stars including Shah Rukh Khan, A.R. Rahman, and Hema Malini shared heartfelt tributes, describing her as an “irreplaceable pillar” of Indian cinema.
With a career spanning over eight decades, Asha Bhosle’s achievements are as remarkable as her talent. Recognised by the Guinness World Records as the most recorded artist in music history, with over 12,000 songs, she mastered everything from classical ghazals and soulful melodies like ‘Dil Cheez Kya Hai’ to high-energy hits like ‘Dum Maro Dum’.
She was also a recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the Padma Vibhushan, and two National Film Awards.
The void left by Asha Bhosle’s passing is immense, but as her fans often say, she will live on forever through the timeless magic of her voice.
(With IANS inputs)
