Havana, December 1 (RHC)-- The caravan transporting Fidel Castro's ashes continues its victorious journey through 13 Cuban provinces to finally arrive in Santiago de Cuba on Saturday, December 3rd.

In the early morning hours on Thursday, the funeral procession departed from central Villa Clara province, the caravan's first stop, where a cultural event to pay homage to the revolutionary leader was held at the Ernesto Guevara Sculptural Complex in Santa Clara.   Fidel's ashes rested for one night alongside the remains of 'Che' and those of his fallen guerrilla forces.

The procession follows, in reverse, the same route of the original Caravan of Liberty from Santiago de Cuba to Havana in January 1959.

Since the caravan first departed from Havana on Wednesday morning, hundreds of thousands of Cubans have lined along the route to say a final goodbye to their indomitable leader.

The procession's next overnight stop will be in Camagüey province, where residents will gather for a vigil in Fidel Castro's honor at the Mayor General Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz Revolution Square, which was inaugurated by Fidel in 1989.