Khan's body was brought to his residence in the Harha Sarai
locality by his family members, where a large number of people,
including his relatives and well wishers, had gathered to pay their
last respects to the departed icon. He is survived by his five sons
and three daughters.

The shehnai maestro's body will be kept at the Benia Bagh park
adjoining his residence to enable well wishers and residents of the
city to pay their homage to the Bharat Ratna awardee, family sources
said.

District Magistrate Rajeev Agrawal, who visited the Heritage
hospital after being intimated about Khan's demise, ordered all
schools and colleges to be closed for a day as a mark of respect to
the departed legend.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and several other
prominent dignitaries were expected to arrive in the temple city to
pay their tributes.

Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh and Benaras Hindu
University vice-chancellor Panjab Singh had also visited Khan in
hospital on Sunday.

The minister asked the Ustad about his wish to perform at India
Gate, to which Khan had replied that it was his last wish, which
would be fulfilled if God willed so.

President A P J Abdul Kalam, who is currently on a visit to
Bangalore, has expressed shock over the Ustad's death.

The gentle genius of Bismillah Khan is perhaps single handedly
responsible for making Shehnai a famous classical instrument.
Traditionally used to play music during marriages, Shehnai is the
counterpart of south indian nadaswaram. It is also used to play music
in temples.

Khan was born on March 21, 1916 into a family of court musicians
and later trained under his uncle, the late Ali Bux 'Vilayatu', a
shehnai player at Varanasi's Vishwanath temple.

During his long and fruitful career as an artiste, Khan enthralled
audiences at performances across the globe. He was honoured with the
Sangeet Natak Akademi award, the Tansen award as well as the Padma
Vibhushan.

The legendary shehani maestro, a man of tenderness, a man who
believes in remaining private and who believes that musicians are
supposed to be heard and not seen. The legend was born on 21 March
1916. His ancestors were court musicians in the princely state of
Dumraon in Bihar and he was trained under his uncle, the late Ali Bux
`Vilayatu', a shehnai player attached to Varanasi's Vishwanath
Temple. He brought Shehnai to the center stage of indian music with
his concert in the calcutta All India Music Conference in 1937. There
was no looking back. It was Khan Sahib who poured his heart out into
Raga Kafi from Red Fort on the eve of India's first Republic Day
ceremony.

Where others see conflict and contradiction between his music and
his religion, Bismillah Khan sees only a divine unity. Music, sur,
namaaz is the same thing. His namaaz is the seven shuddh and five
komal surs. Even as a devout Shia, Khan Sahib is also a staunch
devotee of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of music.

His honorary doctorate from the Benares Hindu University and
Shantiniketan bespeaks of his fame. He has been bequeathed with the
Sangeet Natak Academi Award, the Tansen Award of the Madhya Pradesh
government and also the prestigious Padma Vibhushan.

He has played in Afghanistan, Europe, Iran, Iraq, Canada, West
Africa, USA, USSR, Japan, Hong Kong and almost every capital city
across the world.
In 2001, Khan became the third classical musician to be awarded the
Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.

Despite his fame, Khan's lifestyle retained its old world charm and
he continued to use the cycle rickshaw as his chief mode of transport
till his death.