Hundreds of thousands of grieving DMK supporters on Wednesday thronged Marina Beach, the final resting place of ‘Kalaingar Karunanidhi’ to catch one last glimpse of their beloved leader. His mortal remains was shifted from Rajaji Hall, where it was kept for the public to pay their last respects, then was shifted on to an Army truck which was decked with over two tonne of flowers, and slowly made its way to the Anna memorial.

DMK workers, supporters and thousand of people lined up along the route to the burial ground as his funeral procession slowly inched towards his final resting place.

There was heavy police presence in the area. Draped in the Indian flag, Karunanidhi’s body was moved to a casket made, engraved with the words 'The man who continued to work without rest, now finally rests here'. 

TN Governor Banwarilal Purohit lead the State funeral proceedings. 

Defence personnel handed over the Indian Flag that was draped on Kalaignar to MK Stalin. 

Following which the family members and longtime friend and confidant K Anbazhagan paid floral tributes to the DMK patriarch.  

An inconsolable MK stalin along with family members stood as the mortal remains was lowered into the ground, after receiving full state honours. 

Chennai city was under high alert overnight as police and the administration made arrangements at Rajaji Hall for the mortal remains to be kept there for public view before taking it to the Marina Beach. 

The weeping multitude that surged towards Rajaji Hall at the crack of dawn had time only for a last glimpse of their leader who enjoyed cult status as Kalaingar.

There was ruckus outside Gopalapuram, Karunanidhi’s residence, as police personnel struggled to control the crowds. As soon as news broke of his passing away, supporters from across the state descended on Gopalapuram. The crowds swelled in great numbers as the day passed, with politicians cutting across party lines reaching the venue to pay their respects. 

Prime Minster Narendar Modi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, former Union Minister Veerappa Moily, Leader of Oppostion Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Kerela CM Pinarayi Vijayan, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, TMC leader Derek O'Brien, TN CM Edappadi K Palaniswami, TN Guv Banwarilal Purohit, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, Telangana CM K Chandresekar Rao, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, SP's Akhilesh Yadav, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy, Maiam president Kamal Haasan, Puducherry CM V Narayanaswamy, superstar Rajinikanth and members of the family and DMK party members where among the dignitaries who payed homage to the former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

High drama followed his death as the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu refused to allow his cremation at Marina beach in Chennai as demanded by DMK supporters. The Madras high court on Wednesday allowed Karunanidhi to be buried at Chennai’s Marina beach.