HAVANA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- The ashes of the late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro will rest Thursday at the eastern Camaguey city, where thousands of its inhabitants will pay homage overnight to the former president with national and red-black flags, and patriotic songs.

On Thursday night, the cedar urn carrying the remains of the "Commander in Chief" will stay at the Revolution Plaza in memory of the independence war hero Mayor General Ignacio Agramonte, which was built in 1989 based on Fidel's ideas.

Early in the morning the caravan left Santa Clara city, 300 km of Havana, and continued its travel eastwards, passing the cities of Sancti Spiritus, Jatibonico, and Ciego de Avila, among others, where hundreds of thousands of people bade farewell to the man who had ruled the Caribbean island for 47 years.

"Long live Fidel, live, live, Fidel, Fidel, I am Fidel!" exclaimed the crowd, gathered on both sides of the Central Highway, which was broadcast live for the whole day by the official TV.

Castro died on Nov. 25 at the age 90. The Cuban government declared national mourning until Dec. 4, when his ashes will be buried in the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba, the resting place of national war heroes and other celebrities.