Singer Zubeen Garg’s mortal stays start closing journey residence as hundreds pour on streets for last glimpse in Guwahati on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Ritu Raj Konwar
The streets of Guwahati become a sea of humanity on Sunday (September 21, 2025) as fans, younger and previous, 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 stays from the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to his residence in Kahilipara, 25 km away. His physique had arrived on the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi from Singapore round Saturday midnight. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita obtained the physique in New Delhi and paid their tributes.
The singer’s spouse, Garima Saikia Garg, broke down whereas receiving the physique on the airport on the outskirts of Guwahati at about 7 a.m. The convoy of autos additionally included Garg’s favorite open jeep.
His mortal stays had been later positioned on the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah sports activities advanced, nearly halfway between his residence and the airport, for fans – many from faraway districts – to provide 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 mentioned.
Cremation website recognized
Based on inputs from the singer’s relations, the State Cabinet recognized Hatimura in Sonapur, about 30 km east of Guwahati, as the location the place the last rites could be carried out on September 23.
Education Minister Ranoj Pegu mentioned, “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 conventional Assamese gamosas with “ZG (Zubeen Garg) Forever” woven into them.
‘Relaxation trip’
Facing criticism for allegedly taking an unfit Garg to Singapore to carry out on the North East India Festival, organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta mentioned the singer had travelled to the island nation primarily to calm down and spend time with members of the Assam Association there. The three-day competition, scheduled to start on September 19, was cancelled after Garg died whereas swimming in the ocean and not using a life jacket.
“He did not come to Singapore for the festival alone. He made his own plans,” Mr. Mahanta informed businesses, insisting the go to was voluntary.
Earlier, the Assam authorities requested the Crime Investigation Department to probe Garg’s loss of life. Multiple first info experiences had been filed towards Mr. Mahanta and the singer’s supervisor, Siddharth Sarma, alleging their negligence led to the tragedy
Tributes deliberate
Devajit Saikia, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), mentioned the Assam Cricket Association would organise a 40-minute programme as a tribute to Garg throughout 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 mentioned.
In southern Assam’s Silchar, members of the North East Integration Rally additionally 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 mentioned.
Published – September 21, 2025 08:55 pm IST
