PALAKKAD: The body of kathakali maestro Kottakkal Sivaraman, who died on Monday night, was cremated with state honours at the compound of his house at Karalmanna, near Cherpulassery here on Tuesday.
Thousands of people visited the residence of Kottakkal Sivaraman to pay their last tributes to the versatile artiste.
Kottakal Sivaraman's son Girish Kumar lit the funeral pyre. Palakkad District Collector K V Mohan Kumar placed a wreath on behalf of Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, and assistant private secretary Babu John on behalf of Education Minister M A Baby.
Among those who paid their last tributes included Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Mattanur Shankarankutty and Kerala Kalamandalam's former principal Vasu Pisharody.
M P Veerendra Kumar and P V Gangadharan on behalf of Mathrubhumi, Malayala Manorama resident editor Joy Sasthampadikal, Kairali TV director T R Ajayan, block panchayat president Shaju Shankar and Cherpalssery grama panchayat president Swayamprabha paid their last respects to the kathakali maestro.
Wreaths were also placed on behalf of the Cochin Cultural Centre, Kerala Sahithya Akademi, Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Cheliya Kathakali Vidyalayam, Swaralaya and Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangham.
Cherpulassery subinspector Achuthanandan, on behalf of the Palakkad Superintendent of Police, and district panchayat president Subaida Ishaaq placed wreaths on the body.