Mumbai: A huge crowd gathered in Mumbai on Thursday to pay tribute to the legendary industrialist Ratan Tata, who made the Tata Group a global brand. Thousands of people from various fields, including politicians and corporate personalities, reached the National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) in South Mumbai to pay tribute to him. His body wrapped in the tricolor was brought from his residence in Colaba to the NCPA in a vehicle decorated with white flowers.

Ratan Tata, the honorary chairman of the Tata Group, died at the age of 86 on Wednesday night at Breach Candy Hospital. Those who rushed to the hospital after hearing the news of his death included Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar and industrialist Mukesh Ambani.

Amit Shah and Sharad Pawar paid tribute

Home Minister Amit Shah, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NCP (Sharad Pawar) President Sharad Pawar, his daughter MP Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena (Uttar Pradesh) President Uddhav Thackeray, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, former Chief Ministers Sushil Kumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan, State Congress President Nana Patole and Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das reached NCPA and paid tribute to India's precious gem.

Heads of leading business houses also reached Ratan Tata's house

Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, financial sector tycoon Deepak Parekh, heads or their representatives of leading business houses like Piramal, Godrej, Hinduja, Mahindra, Bajaj also paid tribute to the late star of the business world. Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi President Prakash Ambedkar also reached NCPA and paid tribute to him.

Employees and top officials of the Tata Group were also present to pay their tributes. Even before Ratan Tata's body was brought to the NCPA, a large number of people were standing in queues to have a last glimpse of the man for whom they had immense respect in their hearts.

In view of the possibility of a large gathering at the NCPA, the Mumbai Police had already tightened security and also imposed traffic restrictions in some parts of Nariman Point. Before the funeral procession started from Ratan Tata's Colaba residence, the Mumbai Police band played a tune in his honour. Many people had gathered outside his house since morning to pay tribute.

Sachin Tendulkar was the first to reach Ratan Tata's house

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was among the first to reach Ratan Tata's house. The governments of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Jharkhand have declared a state mourning on Thursday in honour of Ratan Tata. A statement quoted Chief Minister Shinde as saying that the tricolour will fly at half-mast at government offices in Maharashtra. Sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik carved a sand portrait of Tata on the beach in Puri to pay tribute to him.

The funeral was held with state honors, people from many fields including Shah were present

Renowned industrialist Ratan Tata was cremated with full state honours at the crematorium in Worli on Thursday evening. Home Minister Amit Shah, his cabinet colleague Piyush Goyal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were present on the occasion. Ratan Tata's family members, his stepbrother Noel Tata and Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran, top company officials and people from various fields bid him a tearful farewell. A priest involved in the funeral said that rituals will be performed at the late industrialist's bungalow in Colaba for the next three days.