Sayonara, Asha Tai: Legendary singer cremated with full State honours at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park

Nation bids farewell to Asha Bhosle, marking the end of an era. Leaders and film personalities pay tribute to her unparalleled contribution to Indian music spanning over eight decades

MUMBAI: “Abhi Na Jaao Chhodkar…” The strains of that wistful song played in the background at the Shivaji Park crematorium on Monday as hundreds of people gathered inside – and outside – to bid music legend Asha Bhosle a final sayonara.

A gun salute rang out as the last rites of Bhosle, perhaps the last of the singing greats who ruled the soundwaves for decades and still do, were held in accordance with Hindu rituals and with full State honours at Mumbai’s iconic Shivaji Park. Her son Anand performed the rituals.

‘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 as she was 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 ground. Her mortal remains were kept at her residence in Lower Parel, from 11:00 am to 3:00 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 somber 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, Ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Ashish Shelar, Bharat Gogawale, Sanjay Shirsat, MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena UBT MP Anil Desai, were among those who were present at the funeral to pay their final respects.

Further, Bollywood superstars including Amir Khan also attended the cremation. They expressed their profound grief over the loss of the “most versatile voice” in music history. “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,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his condolence message.

From the film industry, stars including Shah Rukh Khan, AR 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 statistics are as staggering 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 pop hits like ‘Dum Maro Dum’.

She was also a recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, 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 forever through the timeless magic of her voice.