Patel's body, clothed in simple khadi and surrounded by garlands of white flowers, lay in a glass coffin.
A sense of quiet reverence pervaded the courtyard of his residence, where senior leaders, diplomats, and dignitaries had gathered to bid farewell.
The gun carriage, draped in the Indian tricolor, stood ready outside, its polished brass gleaming in the morning light.
At precisely 9:00 AM, the ceremonial preparations began.
A contingent of soldiers in crisp white uniforms moved in unison, lifting the coffin gently onto the carriage.
Their movements were deliberate, each step reflecting the gravity of the moment.
The carriage would travel through the heart of New Delhi, giving the people one last chance to pay their respects to the man who had given so much of himself to his nation.
As the soldiers took their positions, the silence was broken only by the soft strains of a military band, playing a somber hymn.
