Mombasa industrialist and philanthropist Hasmukh 'Hasu' Patel was finally cremated on Sunday afternoon at a ceremony attended by several leaders from Kenya, Uganda and India.

The cremation took place at the Hindu Crematorium, Buxton, in line with Hindu customs.

The funeral procession of the tycoon which started at the Pandya memorial hospital few minutes past 9am brought Mombasa city at standstill as hundreds of residents who most have in one way or the other been touched by his charity gestures lined up the streets to say their final goodbye to a man who has touched many hearts not only in Mombasa but other neighbouring counties like Kilifi.

His body was placed in a chair, in a sitting position on a special vehicle well decorated with flowers, his close family members especially sons surrounding him on both sides while other family members at the back.

Among those who were with the body at the hearse was his former right hand man and religious leader Naran Mepani.

According to Mepani, they decided to give the late tycoon a special send off because of his status in the community and according to the hindu traditions.

"He was not just a normal person, he was like a king, in our Swaminarayan community we refer to him as Raja and that is why you see all this." Mepani told journalists during an interactive session at the late tycoon's home in Nyali.

Adding " This has never happened in Kenya, it only happens in India, to people who are highly regarded in the community. We always ensure that their corpses seat in a decorated hearse and there has to be a procession. This is also what happens to priests those who you see wearing orange clothes."

The body of the late businessman passed through four different Hindu temples where members of the respective temples came out with flowers and for special prayers.

"His status allows that he be taken through different temples on his way to the final place, the congregants at the temples have to come out and thrown flowers to the hearse carrying his body, symbolizing his status." explained Mepani.

The hearse carrying Patel's body was also escorted by several people living with disabilities who he mainly assisted especially with wheel chairs.

During his speech at the funeral service, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said he will present a request to the county assembly to have one of the roads and ECD centres in the county named after Patel.