NEW DELHI: Assam bids a tearful farewell to its beloved icon and legendary singer and composer Zubeen Garg, whose untimely passing has left the state in deep sorrow. Zubeen Garg’s last rites and cremation are taking place with full state hounors at Kamarkuchi village in Sonapur.Earlier, addressing the media, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said that, “We will carry the mortal remains of Zubeen Garg from Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex at around 8 am on September 23 to Kamarkuchi, where the last rites will be conducted. A state funeral will be held today.”The September 23 ceremonies promise a poignant farewell to the voice that defined a generation, combining massive public gatherings with full state honours.The Assam Police will serve as pallbearers, escorting the coffin along the highway and performing a gun salute. The route will remain closed to vehicular traffic, and dry days have been declared along the procession route, including Meghalaya.
Massive public homage in Guwahati
Thousands of fans on Tuesday thronged Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex to pay their last respects, with queues stretching for hours amid scorching heat.As lakhs of fans paid their respects to Assam’s beloved singer Zubeen Garg, his four dogs also made a final visit to their master on Monday at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati, where his mortal remains were kept for public homage.
Zubeen’s four beloved dogs — Iko, Diya, Rambo, and Maya — were brought by his family for a final farewell, creating an emotional scene at the venue. His wife, Garima Garg, held the dogs close as they were led to the glass casket. One by one, the dogs were shown their master’s face, creating a deeply emotional moment in an already grief-stricken stadium.Fans sang his iconic songs, while many people fell ill due to the heat and received immediate medical attention.Earlier on Monday, thousands of emotional fans thronged the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex to pay their respects. Scenes from outside the venue showed long queues of devotees, many visibly moved, patiently waiting for a final glimpse of the music legend and mourning his tragic loss.
Political and official tributes
Sarma visited the cremation site, overseeing arrangements, and described Zubeen as a cultural icon. Sharing a post on X, he said “Ahead of the final goodbye to Zubeen, I inspected the cremation site and took stock of the preparations.” He also paid a heartfelt tribute to the late popular singer saying, “There will never be another Zubeen.”Union Minister Kiren Rijiju will represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the funeral, alongside representatives from various state governments.Thousands of mourners lined the 25-km stretch from the airport to the city, paying tribute as Zubeen’s mortal remains were taken to his residence and then the sports complex.
Second post-mortem in Guwahati
Following a second post-mortem conducted for transparency, a second post-mortem was conducted at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) in the presence of AIIMS doctors, with the family’s consent.Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that the procedure was to ensure transparency and rule out foul play.
Public response and memorials
Across Assam, memorials were held, and most commercial establishments voluntarily closed to honour Zubeen Garg.Fans and citizens expressed grief at both the public homage and in spontaneous gatherings, highlighting the singer’s immense influence in Assamese music and culture.Zubeen, known for his love for animals, was posthumously remembered for his contributions to animal welfare, including recognition by PETA in 2018.Wife Garima Saikia Garg thanked the public for their “overwhelming love and blessings,” while the family ensured the funeral arrangements respected Zubeen’s wishes.Zubeen Garg passed away on September 19 in Singapore in a scuba diving accident. The Singapore authorities issued a death certificate citing drowning as the cause, while a post-mortem report is being sought by Assam officials for further verification.(With inputs and photos from PTI)
