UMERKOT, Aug 2 The final journey of Rana Chandar Singh, a former federal minister and legislator from Umerkot, here on Sunday revived the memories of the olden days when Rajputs held sway over the desert area now divided between Pakistan's Tharparkar and India's Rajasthan.

With drums beating, his coffin was brought to Umerkot from his native village Rana Jagir — a distance of 10 kilometres — shouldered high by family members, friends and followers.

Attired in traditional Rajput costume, including a colourful turban and ornaments of a groom, the body was placed on a chair in a straight seating position. The Rajputs believe that the head of a dead Rana should also be held high to highlight the status he held during his lifetime.

A large number of people, including women and children, thronged the dusty streets of the historic town and many others gathered on rooftops to catch a last glimpse of the Rana who lived and died like a true Rajput.

Earlier, Rana Chandar's elder son Kanwar Hameer Singh was installed as his successor, the 26th Rana of Tharparkar's Thakurs. During the ceremony a tilak of human blood was put on his forehead, a symbol of the martial quality of the clan.

Rana Hameer Singh said that his father was 16 years old when he was named the 25th Rana of Rajputs after the death of his father.