Guwahati unites in grief as fans pay last respects to Zubeen Garg

The streets of Guwahati turned into a sea of humanity on Sunday (September 21, 2025) as fans, young and old, gathered to pay their last respects to Assamese singer-composer Zubeen Garg.

Thousands of mourners lined the streets and showered flowers on the ambulance carrying the singer’s mortal remains from the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to his residence in Kahilipara, 25 km away. His body had arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi from Singapore around Saturday midnight. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita received the body in New Delhi and paid their tributes.

The singer’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, broke down while receiving the body at the airport on the outskirts of Guwahati at about 7 a.m. The convoy of vehicles also included Garg’s favourite open jeep.

His mortal remains were later placed at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah sports complex, almost midway between his residence and the airport, for fans – many from faraway districts – to offer tributes. “More and more people wish to see our beloved Zubeen one last time, and we deeply understand these sentiments. So, we have decided to keep the stadium open throughout the night today. Zubeen’s mortal remains will also be kept at the stadium on Monday for people to offer their homage,” the Chief Minister said.

Cremation site identified

Based on inputs from the singer’s family members, the State Cabinet identified Hatimura in Sonapur, about 30 km east of Guwahati, as the site where the last rites would be performed on September 23.

Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said, “The Chief Minister entrusted us to discuss the cremation ground with Garg’s family members. His wife acknowledged the request of the people in Jorhat to take his body there, but she said Garg’s ailing, octogenarian father would not be able to make the journey. We identified some probable sites in Guwahati and Jorhat, but Garg’s family members opted for Sonapur. We can later take a call on building memorials for the cultural icon in Jorhat, Guwahati, and other places.”

Throughout Garg’s last journey on the streets of Guwahati, fans sang his songs and chanted “Joi Zubeen da”. Many mourners held traditional Assamese gamosas with “ZG (Zubeen Garg) Forever” woven into them.

‘Relaxation trip’

Facing criticism for allegedly taking an unfit Garg to Singapore to perform at the North East India Festival, organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta said the singer had travelled to the island nation primarily to relax and spend time with members of the Assam Association there. The three-day festival, scheduled to begin on September 19, was cancelled after Garg died while swimming in the sea without a life jacket.

“He did not come to Singapore for the festival alone. He made his own plans,” Mr. Mahanta told agencies, insisting the visit was voluntary.

Earlier, the Assam government asked the Crime Investigation Department to probe Garg’s death. Multiple first information reports were filed against Mr. Mahanta and the singer’s manager, Siddharth Sarma, alleging their negligence led to the tragedy

Tributes planned

Devajit Saikia, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said the Assam Cricket Association would organise a 40-minute programme as a tribute to Garg during the opening ceremony of the Women’s World Cup Cricket in Guwahati on September 30. “Assam is grieving and Garg deserves respect. The BCCI may collaborate for the programme in the name of Zubeen Garg,” he said.

In southern Assam’s Silchar, members of the North East Integration Rally also mourned the singer’s passing. “Zubeen was very vocal about the integration of northeast India. With more than 38,000 songs in nearly 40 languages, his contribution to society and culture is enormous, and many may not even realise the scale of it,” the rally’s founder Biswadeep Gupta said.