When former South African president and anti-apartheid crusader Nelson Mandela died on Thursday, people around the globe gathered to memorialize the life and mourn the loss of a man widely recognized as beacon of courage, hope and freedom.
See also: 11 Inspiring Moments to Remember Nelson Mandela
Remembrance ceremonies, both formal and impromptu, took place everywhere from Johannesburg to India to the United States. Some areas were crowded with grief-stricken onlookers while others came alive with dance and music to celebrate his time alive. Below is a selection of photos from those memorials.
The Mandela statue on Mandela Square on December 6, 2013 in Hammanskraal, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of Dec. 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family. (Photo by Theana Breugem/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
A woman prays at the Central Methodist Church, as people gather to remember former South African President Nelson Mandela, who passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2013, aged 95, on Dec. 6, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Michelly Rall/Getty Images)
Street artist Victor Landeta spray paints a portrait of former South African leader and human rights activist Nelson Mandela on a sliver of the former Berlin Wall near Berlin on Oct. 19, 2013 in Kleinmachnow, Germany. Ailing Mandela recently spent three months in a hospital and is now receiving treatment at home. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama pauses while making a statement about the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela in the briefing room of the White House on Dec. 5, 2013 in Washington, DC. Obama described Mandela, who died at 95, as "influential, courageous and profoundly good." AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI
England observes a minutes silence in memory of former South African President Nelson Mandela ahead of day two of the Second Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at Adelaide Oval on Dec. 6, 2013 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Anny Masemola at the moment she heard of Madiba's death, on Dec. 6, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mourners have been gathering since early hours of the morning to pay their respects. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of Dec. 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family. (Photo by Theana Breugem/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
People gather to pay last respects outside former President Nelson Mandelas Home on Dec. 5, 2013 in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of Dec. 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family. (Photo by Nelius Rademan/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
People photograph the marquee at the historic Apollo Theater, announcing the death of former South African President and civil rights champion Nelson Mandela, on Dec. 5, 2013 in the Harlem neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City, United States. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
A man holds up candles to a mural depicting former South African President and civil rights champion Nelson Mandela, who died today, on Dec. 5, 2013 in the Harlem neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City, United States. Mandela was a leader that helped conquer apartheid in racially divided South Africa after being jailed for his activism for decades. He was South Africa's first black president; he lived from 1918-2013. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Members of the First AME Church Freedom Mass Choir pray in honor of the late former South African President and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, whose image appears on the left, during choir rehearsal on Dec. 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. First AME Church of Los Angeles was the site of Nelson Mandela's first visit to Los Angeles after he was freed from prison. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
People gather to pay last respects outside former President Nelson Mandelas Home on Dec. 5, 2013 in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of Dec. 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family. (Photo by Nelius Rademan/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Tibetan spiritual leader The Dalai Lama speaks to members of the press about the passing of former South African president Nelson Mandela, as he attends a function in New Delhi on Dec. 6, 2013. The Dalai Lama joined scores of personalities in expressing his feelings at the passing of revered icon of South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle and a towering figure of 20th century politics. AFP PHOTO/Roberto SCHMIDT
A woman places a floral tribute to Nelson Mandela outside the South African embassy near Trafalgar Square on Dec. 6, 2013 in London, England. Mandela was a leader that helped conquer apartheid in racially divided South Africa after being jailed for his activism for decades. He was South Africa's first black president. He died yesterday at the age of 95. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
A man puts a bunch of flowers before portraits of the late Nelson Mandela outside the South African embassy in Beijing on Dec. 6, 2013. The death of South Africa's liberation leader Nelson Mandela has unleashed a heartfelt chorus of awed respect from across the worlds of politics, religion, sport and culture. AFP PHOTO / WANG ZHAO (Photo credit should read WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)
A woman, surrounded by other people who pay their respects, prays on Dec. 6, 2013 outside the house of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg following his death in this town. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died at age 95. AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN
Anthony Wiboh from Ghana dances at the Union Buildings on Dec. 6, 2013 in Pretoria, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of Dec. 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family. (Photo by Alet Pretorius/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
People wishing to pay last respects gather outside former President Nelson Mandela's Home on Dec. 6, 2013 in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of Dec. 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family. (Photo byTemba Mfokano/Daily Sun/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
A giant portrait of late former South African President Nelson Mandela hangs on Dec. 6, 2013, on the facade of the French Foreign ministry, the Quai d'Orsay, in Paris a day after the death of the anti-apartheid icon in Johannesburg. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died at age 95. AFP PHOTO JOEL SAGET
Members of the African National Congress (ANC) Women's League sang and prayed outside the former Vilakazi Street home of Nelson Mandela, 95, who had been treated for a recurring lung infection on July 3, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Photographers take photos of a bust of the late Nelson Mandela displayed inside the South African embassy in Beijing on Dec. 6, 2013. The death of South Africa's liberation leader Nelson Mandela has unleashed a heartfelt chorus of awed respect from across the worlds of politics, religion, sport and culture. AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones
People light candles on Dec. 6, 2013 outside the house of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg. AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN
European Union flags fly at half mast in honour of former South African leader Nelson Mandela, who died at the age of 95 last night, outside the Berlaymont building of the European Commission (EC) on Dec. 6, 2013 in Brussels, Belgium. The European Commission is responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the execution of the European Union's policies. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)
A man comforts a woman as they mourn the death of Nelson Mandela as they stand outside the South African embassy near Trafalgar Square on Dec. 6, 2013 in London, England. Mandela was a leader that helped conquer apartheid in racially divided South Africa after being jailed for his activism for decades. He was South Africa's first black president. He died yesterday at the age of 95. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
The South African flag flies half mast on Dec. 6, 2013, in East London, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of Dec. 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family. (Photo by Mark Andrews/Daily Dispatch/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Newspapers front pages bearing portraits of late President Nelson Mandela are displayed at a newsstand in Dakar, Senegal, on Dec. 6, 2013. Very few people become global icons whose passing can dominate all of the world's front pages, trigger non-stop TV coverage and invite worshipful plaudits from across the media landscape. AFP PHOTO / SEYLLOU
Joanna Vignola weeps before placing a floral tribute at the foot of a statue to Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square on Dec. 6, 2013 in London, England. Mandela was a leader that helped conquer apartheid in racially divided South Africa after being jailed for his activism for decades. He was South Africa's first black president. He died yesterday at the age of 95. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Flowers and tributes lie at the base of the plinth bearing a bust of former South African President Nelson Mandela in central London on Dec. 6, 2013. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II said Friday she was 'deeply saddened' by the death of Nelson Mandela, adding that he had 'worked tirelessly for the good of his country'. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL
Crowds singing and dancing at the Grand Parade in memory of former South African President Nelson Mandela on Dec. 6, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa. Mandela was a leader that helped conquer apartheid in racially divided South Africa after being jailed for his activism for decades. He was South Africa's first black president. He died yesterday at the age of 95. (Photo by Michelly Rall/Getty Images)
Frontpages of Swedish newspapers depict South Africa's anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela on Dec. 6, 2013 in Stockholm. Former South-African President Mandela, a global colossus and Nobel peace laureate, died on Dec. 5, 2013, aged 95. AFP PHOTO / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND
The Norwegian flag flies at half-mast as a mark of respect to former South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, at the House of Parliament in Oslo, on Dec. 6, 2013. Former South-African President Mandela, a global colossus and Nobel peace laureate, died on Dec. 5, 2013, at age 95. CORNELIUS POPPE/AFP/Getty Images
A woman brings a flower on Dec. 6, 2013 outside the house of late former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months spent in a hospital in a critical state. AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN
The is a file photo of Nelson Mandela dancing with girls from a middle school during a campaign rally on April 16th, 1994. (Photo by Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Image: Getty Images, AFP, Stephane De Sakutin