World leaders pay homage to Mandela at memorial service

As multi-religious prayers were said, a person of Indian origin recited Sanskrit shlokas to say that Mandela has attained immortality and that people were offering their humble worship so that he leads the world from darkness to light.

Mukherjee, who received a thunderous welcome when he entered the stadium, highlighted the strong political links between South Africa and India especially through Mahatma Gandhi having started his career here before leading India to freedom.

Mandela's widow Graca Machael, separated wife Winnie Mandela, children and grand children attended the ceremony that virtually into a long celebrations of the late leader.

Songs of the anti-apartheid movement were sung as heavy rains pounded the stadium where he had made his last public appearance a few years ago. One of the speakers that the rains signified that God welcoming him to heaven.

Mandela's funeral is scheduled to be held in his childhood home, Qunu village in the Eastern Cape on December 15 and it will be a private affair.

President Mukherjee, who was seated next to South African President Jacob Zuma, said India has no doubt that the world will honour the historic legacy of Mandela.