India's last maharaja of Jaipur cremated

The 79-year old Singh became the hereditary ruler of Jaipur in June 1970. -- PHOTO: AP

JAIPUR - THOUSANDS of people have thronged the streets of a western Indian city to mourn Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh, the last maharaja of Jaipur.

As Hindu priests chanted holy verses, Singh's 12-year old grandson lit the funeral pyre on Monday at a solemn ceremony attended by many former rulers of small kingdoms in India.

The 79-year old Singh became the hereditary ruler of Jaipur in June 1970. Jaipur was one of hundreds of tiny royal kingdoms in India until its independence from Britain in 1947.

India formally abolished royal titles in 1971, but Singh still was revered in Rajasthan state, of which Jaipur is now the capital.

Singh had high blood pressure and a lung infection and died late on Saturday. 

-- AP