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LIVE: Jayalalithaa's Last Journey Begins

Amma is no more.
Supporters hold a photograph of Tamil Nadu state leader Jayalalithaa Jayaram.
AFP/Getty Images
Supporters hold a photograph of Tamil Nadu state leader Jayalalithaa Jayaram.

6:21 pm: AIADMK Supremo Jayalalithaa's Casket Lowered Into Ground

6:07 pm: Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa laid to rest with full state honours at Chennai's Marina Beach

5:59 pm: Jayalalithaa's close aide Sasikala Natarajan performs last rites

Jayalalithaa receives full state honours in Tamil Nadu.

5:52 pm: Jayalalithaa's receives gun salute at Chennai's Marina Beach

5:30 pm: Jayalalithaa's funeral procession reaches Marina Beach

Tens of thousands of people have gathered to bid farewell. Jayalalithaa will be buried next to her political mentor MGR.

5:00 pm: "Long live Amma, long live revolutionary leader"

People chant slogans in praise Jayalalithaa as the funeral procession moves slowly towards Marina Beach.

4:45 pm: Outpouring of grief at Jayalalithaa's demise

Three die of shock, two persons attempt suicide after Jayalalithaa's demise.

4:30 pm:Huge crowds throng around Jayalalithaa's casket as it is moved to Marina Beach

Jayalalithaa will be buried in a sandalwood casket, NDTV reports.

4:20 pm: Jayalalithaa's body is being taken to Marina Beach, a three-km journey from Rajaji Hall

4:13 pm:President Pranab Mukherjee pays tribute to Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall in Chennai

3:58 pm: Mamata Banerjee pays tributes to Jayalalithaa

3:20 pm: It's burial for Jayalalithaa, not cremation

J Jayalalithaa's mortal remains will be buried, going against the traditional funeral process of cremating the body.

She will be laid to rest next to her mentor and former chief minister MG Ramachandran, at the MGR memorial on Kamarajar Salai around 4.30pm.

2.30 pm: Political leaders across parties pay tribute to Jayalalithaa

Former PM Manmohan Singh and Karnataka CM Siddharamaiah of Congress, DMK leader MK Stalin, and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu of BJP were among those who paid tribute to Jayalalithaa in Rajaji Hall on Tuesday afternoon.

2.00 pm: Mild lathi-charge outside Rajaji Hall

1.35 pm: PM Modi pays last respects to Jayalalithaa

PM Modi reaches Rajaji Hall to pay his last respects to Jayalalithaa.

1.30 pm: Jayalalithaa's supporters shave their heads in mourning

1.00 pm: President Mukherjee leaves for Chennai

President Mukherjee leaves for Chennai again in the same aircraft.

12.05 pm: PM Modi arrives in Chennai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Chennai, where he will pay a floral tribute to deceased leader Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall.

Meanwhile, the IAF plane carrying President Pranab Mukherjee to Chennai had to return to Delhi after it developed a technical snag.

11.43 am: Paying homage to Jayalalithaa's mortal remains

11.30 am: Thousands pay tribute at Rajaji Hall

11.00 am: Parliament adjourned

Both houses of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, were adjourned for the day after obituary reference to Jayalalithaa.

10.30 am: Jaya supporter attempts suicide

Devastated by news of her death, a AIADMK member and Jayalalithaa supporter, allegedly attempted suicide at his home in Tamil Nadu. The 45-year-old man, identified at Ramachandran, tried to set himself ablaze in his Coimbatore home after her got to know about Jayalalithaa's death.

9.45 am: From Prime Minister Modi to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, all headed to Chennai

Jayalalithaa's funeral, which will take place on Marina Beach in Chennai today at 4:30 pm, will be attended by Narendra Modi among others. The Prime Minister is on-board a plane to Chennai, where as Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will be reaching by 12:30 pm according to various news reports.

Mamata Banerjee, who had profusely condoled her death yesterday, expressed her disappointment at not being able to attend the funeral. She tweeted the following:

Sending our 2 MPs, Derek and Kalyan from Delhi on my behalf. #RIP 3/3

β€” Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 6, 2016

9.30 am: Supporters inconsolable as news of Jayalalithaa's death is made public

Ever since Jayalalithaa had been admitted to the hospital, her fans and supporters would regularly camp outside the hospital praying for her recovery. An Indian Express article from October recounted how her supporters would turn up outside the hospital, light incense sticks and pray to God for her health. "Amma nalla irukkaanga (Amma is fine)", they would say. Jayalalithaa's supporters were unprecedented in their devotion and attachment to their leader. Yesterday, as news of her deteriorating health spread, an anxious supporter who was watching the news in Cuddalore died from a heart attack. (READ: Jayalalithaa's Supporter Dies Of Shock )

To repeat a cliche, since pictures so speak a thousand words, here are three images that capture the devastation Jayalalithaa's supporters are feeling.

9.00 am: Jayalalithaa's funeral will be held in Chennai's Marina Beach

National mourning has been declared today and all flags will fly at half mast. a 7-day state mourning has been declared in Tamil Nadu.

Clad in a a saree in her favourite colour -- green -- Amma's body has been kept in the Rajaji Hall in Chennai, where thousands poured in yesterday to pay their last respects. Her casket has been draped in the Indian tri-colour.

8.30 am: O Panneerselvam broke down while taking oath at new Tamil Nadu CM

Panneerselvam, who was acting CM, ever since Jayalalithaa had been admitted to the hospital, took oath as the new chief minister of Tamil Nadu at 12:30 am today at Raj Bahwan, Chennai. According to reports, he broke down during the oath taking ceremony and had pinned a picture of Jaya on his shirt pocket.

The following video shows him wiping his eyes while taking his oath at the Raj Bhawan.

8.00 am: Condolences pour in from across the country

Starting with President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders from across the country expressed their condolence at Jayalalithaa's passing. (Here's what they said in their messages.)

Like the Prime Minister frequently does during his trips abroad, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee posted four long tweets in Tamil .

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa breathed her last at 11:30 pm on Monday, after a long battle with a host of ailments. She suffered a massive cardiac arrest on the early hours of Sunday and was admitted to Apollo Hospitals. "Every possible clinical attempt was made to sustain her revival. However, despite our best efforts, the Hounourable Chief Ministers underlying conditions rendered her unable to recover and she passed away at 11:30 PM today," a statement issued by Apollo Hospitals on Monday, said.

Jayalalithaa, popularly referred to as Amma in Tamil Nadu, began her career as an actress as an young age of 15. Her official foray into politics happened in 1982, when she joined AIADMK, a party started by Tamil superstar MGR. She took over the reins of the party and eventually became the leader of the Opposition in 1989. (Read:The Stunning Story Of How Jayalalithaa Trounced MGR's Wife To Take Over AIADMK )

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.