Lata Mangeshkar passes away: State funeral to be held, two-day national mourning declared

Veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar passed away aged 92. She was hospitalised at Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital earlier last month, after testing positive for COVID-19.Lata's sister Usha Mangeshkar confirmed the news to Press Trust of India.It was announced that state funeral will be held for the departed legend, along with a two-day national mourning. In a career spanning over seven decades, the 'Lag Ja Gale Se' singer, also known as the 'Nightingale of India', recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films, and sung in over 36 regional Indian languages and foreign languages. She was also the second vocalist, after late Indian singer MS Subbulakshmi, to have ever been awarded the Bharat Ratna.Her last full album was for the late filmmaker Yash Chopra-directed 2004 film Veer Zaara. Mangeshkar’s last song was ‘Saugandh Mujhe Is Mitti Ki,’ which was released on 30 March, 2021, as a tribute to the Indian Army. She was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in 2001.Lata Mangeshkar was also the recipient of several awards including Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Dada Saheb Phalke Award, and multiple National Film Awards.