NEW ZEALAND:Saffron-robed Buddhist monks, Nepali Sherpas and grey-bearded mountaineers paid homage yesterday to Sir Edmund Hillary, the man who conquered Everest, as thousands gathered in New Zealand to watch his state funeral. "His loss to us is bigger and heavier than Mount Everest," Ang Rita Sherpa told the service in a small church in Auckland.
The funeral of the first man to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain was, in keeping with the man himself, modest, with 600 family, friends and dignitaries in the church. His coffin was draped in the New Zealand flag, cream-coloured Nepali prayer scarves, and Hillary's climbing axe and specially carved walking stick.
Prime Minister Helen Clark told the service, "Sir Ed described himself as a person of modest abilities. In reality he was a colossus. He was our hero." Among those attending the funeral was the son of Tenzing Norgay, the Nepali Sherpa who accompanied Hillary to Everest's 8,850m summit.
"While we mourn his loss, his spirit will forever live and protect the great mountain and the people he loved so much," said Norbu Tenzing Norgay.
Thousands had filed past the coffin in the previous 24 hours to pay their last respects to the former beekeeper, adventurer, and humanitarian, who died aged 88 on January 11th.
The funeral cortege travelled through Auckland streets lined by thousands, who stood and applauded, to a private family service at which Hillary was to be cremated. He had asked that his ashes be scattered on Auckland's harbour.