Fidel Castro's funeral: Rajnath to lead India's multi-party delegation to Cuba

Home Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a delegation of leaders from various parties to attend Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro's funeral scheduled in Havana on Tuesday. In his obituary on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had condoled the demise of the Cuban leader, calling him one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century and a "good friend" of India. Meanwhile, Cubans began paying their tributes to the ashes of their late iconic leader today at the Jose Marti Memorial, located in the Plaza de la Revolucion. This marked the beginning of the funeral ceremonies which would last until Sunday. MASSIVE FAREWELL CEREMONY

In the same square where Castro used to deliver countless speeches as the President of Cuba, a massive farewell ceremony would also be held on Tuesday.

Also read: Fidel Castro, former Cuban leader and revolutionary, dies at 90 World leaders and dignitaries would be part of the ceremony. Among the few names confirmed so far is the King Emeritus of Spain, Juan Carlos I, Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, Bolivia's Evo Morales, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega, and Ecuador's Rafael Correa. On Wednesday, the ashes of Castro would make a trip around the island so that all Cubans could bid him their last "goodbyes".

CARAVAN OF FREEDOM

The trip would take the reverse route of the "Caravan of Freedom", in which the rebels of the Sierra Maestra crossed the country from Santiago de Cuba when the Cuban Revolution triumphed in 1959.

See: Rare pictures of Fidel Castro

The remains of the former Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces would arrive in Santiago, the cradle of the Revolution, on Saturday, when another massive tribute ceremony would take place in Antonio Maceo Square. The burial ceremony of his ashes, which was expected to be attended by his family, would take place in the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery of Havana.

Also read: Cubans to throng Revolution Square in mourning for Fidel Castro