December 6 marks the death anniversary of the first Law Minister of independent India, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. The day is also observed as the ‘Mahaparinirvan Diwas’, to pay homage to the chief architect of the Indian constitution.

Born on April 14, 1891, in Madhya Pradesh, Ambedkar relentlessly put efforts for the upliftment of the backward sections of the society, especially Dalit Buddhists. Millions of people and followers assemble at Chaityabhoomi and Pagoda in Mumbai to pay respects to the leader but this year is not the same.

In view of the coronavirus pandemic, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) appealed to people to not crowd Chaityabhoomi in Dadar whereas it has totally shut down Global Vipassana Pagoda at Gorai in Western suburbs.

Arrangements have been already made on the 64th death anniversary of Ambedkar for the live telecast of the programmes at Chaityabhoomi on Doordarshan, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Flowers will be showered on Chaityabhoomi from a helicopter as a mark of respect to Dr Ambedkar on Sunday, BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said on Saturday, reported PTI.

Ambedkar was a revolutionary freedom fighter, who along with Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, played a key role in the upliftment of the poor and backward classes of the society in India. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, posthumously in 1990.