Writer Sarat Mohanty passes away, daughter performs rites

Puri, Mar 19 (UNI) Oriya writer Sarat Mohanty died after a prolonged illness at a hospital in Bhubaneswar. He was 68.

A winner of the Kendriya Sahitya Akademi in 2002 for his biography Gandhi Manisha, Mr Mohanty had been ailing for some time.

He died on Friday and his body was brought to Swargdwar for cremation yesterday.

His only daughter Madhumita, an Oriya actress, performed the last rites, against tradition.

She was given permission by the priests to perform the rituals, becoming the first woman to do so at Swargdwar.

She lit the funeral pyre and did ''Pitru shraddha'', an important ritual traditionally performed by the eldest son of the deceased.

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