Nepal lost one of its brightest stars with the death of singer Tara Devi following a prolonged illness. She was 61.

Tara Devi, known as the "nightingale of Nepal", died at the Norvic Hospital here Saturday night.

The mellifluous-voiced diva made her debut when she was only five and became one of the best-known voices of Nepal with over 4,000 songs in her repertoire, the highest ever by a woman artiste.

Associated with state-owned Radio Nepal since its very inception, Tara Devi sang for it for 30 years during which she was bestowed with more than a dozen prestigious awards.

Though her voice remained evergreen, a series of tragedies in her personal life made Tara Devi give up singing.

Eleven years ago, her son died. Four years later, her husband died in an air crash. After the twin blows, she stopped singing in 1996.

Artistes and fans flocked the Pashupatinath temple premises Sunday, where her last rites were performed, to pay tribute to her.