Some people touch
us in an amazing way. When they pass away their funeral becomes a public affair
where people who have often only seen them on TV perform a public outpouring of
emotion. I may be lucky to have two or three people attend my funeral. Some
people have had a few more though. Occasionally around the world there are
people whose funeral brings millions of people onto the street to mourn. Here
are the biggest ones.
01. Princess Diana
Princess Diana was known as the Princess of the
People. The world was shocked by her sudden death and in the UK she turned
overnight from an oft ridiculed Princess, into a national heroine. The funeral
of Diana was held in London on September 6th 1997. The procession drew an
estimated three million mourners, who lined the streets of London to pay homage
to their Princess. 09 more after
the break...
02.
Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna was a racing driver who is
regarded as the greatest by many of his peers. He was much more than that as his
death showed. Senna’s death was considered a national tragedy by his many
Brazilian fans. In fact, after his death the country had three official days of
mourning. It is estimated 3,000,000 people crowded onto the roads of Sao Paulo
to pay their respects. He was a true hero to the people of Brazil.
03.
Michael Jackson
We have had a Princess and a sports star.
Another category of people idolized in the modern world is pop stars. None have
ever been bigger than Michael Jackson. His funeral was private and attended by
the family. However, the service was broadcast live around the world. The roads
in LA were closed as his body travelled to the Staples Center to be laid to
rest. Nearly a million fans congregated outside the center to pay their
respects.
04.
C.N. Annadurai (Anna)
Indian people can be among the most fanatic in
the world. In 1969, it is estimated that between 10-15 million people came onto
the streets to watch the funeral of C. N. Annadurai – a similar amount to which
live in greater New York. This leader and revolutionary is more
commonly known as Anna (which means elder brother in the Tamil language).
05.
Pope John Paul II
Religious followers are very devout. The pope
is considered the manifestation of God on earth and so their passing away is
considered cause for pilgrimage. Between 2-4 million people are estimated to
have attended Pope John Paul II’s funeral in Rome on April 7th 2005. That is
more people than you will usually find cars on the roads of Italy’s capital
city. It was a great showing of the power that religion still shows in the world
nowadays.
06. Kim
Jong-il II
Sometimes you have no choice but to attend a
funeral. In the winter of 2011, aged 69, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il died
of a heart attack. He was given a three hour funeral procession led by a
limousine bearing a massive painting of Kim Jong Il beaming away. Millions of
North Koreans crowded onto the streets to mourn. His coffin was covered in a red
flag and beautiful white flowers – as it passed by soldiers struggled to keep
mourners from pouring out onto the road. Or perhaps they were in fact poking
them to make them cry for the cameras.
07. Umm
Kulthum
A true idol of the Arab world passed away on
February 5th 1975. A crowd reported to be in excess of 4 million people came out
to watch the funeral procession of Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum in Cairo. She was
an Egyptian songwriter, singer and actress who had touched hearts. In fact, more
than 30 years after her death, many still regard her as the most elegant and
famous of Egyptian singers in the 20th century. Her memory still holds a large
place in most Egyptian people’s hearts.
08.
President Nasser
The Egyptians certainly like to celebrate a
death it can be said. The crowd which came to Cairo for the funeral of Egyptian
President Nasser on October 1st 1970 was also estimated at an amazing 4 million
people. President Nasser had led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, removing the
reigning King and bringing about a new era of industrialization in Egypt. As
leader of this revolution, he was a hero to many in Egypt and they turned out in
force to mourn his death.
09.
Victor Hugo
Perhaps the most beautiful example of a big
funeral belongs to that of Victor Hugo. Not a celebrity as we know in the modern
world, he did however touch many people’s hearts with the beautiful words that
he wrote. Between 2 and 3 million people gathered to attend the funeral of
Victor Hugo in Paris. Victor Hugo was a poet, author and more – he was a
celebrity of the 19th century. A multi talented man, his best known works are
the novels Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and the now long
lasting musical, Les Miserables.
10. M.K
Gandhi
Many people
remember him as the “Great Soul”. In January 1948, another multi million person
funeral was held when over 2 million people gathered to attend the funeral of
Gandhi. We know Gandhi as the leading political and spiritual leader of his time
and he was also thought of as India’s Father of Independence. His passion was
what inspired movements for freedom and civil rights across the world and has
made him an unforgettable historical figure.
Princesses, sports
stars, pop stars, political stars, poets, revolutionists, dictators. Anyone can
get a big funeral. All you need to do is make a country fall in love with you.
Failing that, just make sure that those around you have reason to love you and
you can be sure that you will have your own special sending away. The only thing
you leave behind is the impact you make. While you are living decide what you
would like people to say about you at your funeral and live it.
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