The ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were brought to South Africa after his death in 1948 but not all have been scattered.

Sixty-two years to the day since his assassination ashes kept by a friend of the family for decades were finally sprinkled onto the waters of the Indian Ocean.

Family and friends of the the Indian icon took part in the ceremony off the coast of Durban.

Speaking ahead of the event his great grandson Satish Dhupelia says the world still needs his philosophy.

[Satish Dhupelia, Gandhi's Great Grandson]:
"I think this is an opportune moment for the world to actually stop and take note that we are living in a very violent society, let's follow the teachings of this great person."

Gandhi is largely credited as the architect of India's freedom from 200 years of British rule.

His decades-long campaign of non-violent resistance has made him a global icon.

He was assassinated in New Delhi by a Hindu extremist less than a year after India's independence.

In India the anniversary of his death is commemorated as Martyr's Day.

The country's leaders have been laying floral tributes at his memorial in New Delhi.

The political party of which Gandhi was a member leads India's federal coalition.