Kathmandu, Aug 19 

The Rashtrakavi (National Poet) Madhav Prasad Ghimire’s last rites have been performed with national honours at the Pashupati Aryaghat today. The late poet’s sons, Indiwar and Rajiv Ghimire, lit the funeral pyre.

Before this, Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba, senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel, general secretary Dr Shashank Koirala, leader Arjun Narsingh KC and Chancellor of Nepal Academy Ganga Prasad Uprety, among the dignitaries, paid last respects to the Rashtrakavi the late Ghimire at his residence, Alakapuri, at local Lainchaur.

A contingent of the Nepali Army led by an army officer offered guard of honour to the Rashtrakavi Ghimire who is the Honorary Brigadier general of Nepal Army.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, former Minister for Defence Bhimsen Das Pradhan, high-ranking army officers, litterateurs, artists and the general public also offered final tribute to the Rashtrakavi at the Aryaghat. National Poet Ghimire passed away at his residence on Tuesday evening at age 101.