The funeral of Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, who passed away at the military hospital in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, past midnight on Thursday, will be held at Ooty as per Zoroastrian rites at 3.30 on Friday.

The first Field Marshal of the country, who was also the hero of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, had been suffering from prolonged illness.

Pay Tribute to Sam Manekshaw

The body of one of India's greatest soldiers will kept at the MRC grounds in Wellington between 1100 hours and 1300 hours on Friday for the public to pay homage.

From Wellington his body will taken in a gun carriage to Ooty where his funeral will be held.

In a rare gesture, the Centre has decided to accord a state funeral to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the Defence Ministry said.

"The government has decided that the rare honour of a state funeral, usually given only to public figures, will be a fitting manner to honour Field Marshal Manekshaw. This is the first time a military person is being given a state funeral," a defence ministry official said.

Defence minister A K Antony will not be attending the funeral. "The defence minister will not be able to travel as it involves a long flight and then a journey by road to reach the place," the official said. He added that the participation of the chiefs of the three defence services was doubtful.

"The vice chief of army staff has already left. The chief of army staff is not in town and will not be attending. The other services will also be well-represented," the official said.

Union Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju would represent the Central government at the funeral, while a representative of the Chief of Royal Bhutan Army Kinley Dorji would attend, representing the Bhutanese Army.

Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General M L Naidu and a Tamil Nadu minister would also be attending the funeral.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government announced a day's official mourning today. The National flag would fly at half mast throughout the state, an official press release said.

Educational institutions in the Nilgiris would remain closed today as a mark of respect to the departed General, the release added.