Assam bids farewell to beloved icon Zubeen Garg amid unprecedented outpouring

As a flower-decked ambulance carried his body from the airport, the public outpouring was immense. (Image credit: X/@airnewsalerts)

The streets of Guwahati, deserted in shock since Friday, transformed into a sea of humanity on Sunday. Thousands gathered to receive the mortal remains of Assam’s star singer and cultural icon, Zubeen Garg, who died suddenly in Singapore at the age of 52.

As a flower-decked ambulance carried his body from the airport, the public outpouring was immense. Mourners lined the route, showering flowers and traditional gamosas. Many sang the artist’s most popular numbers, crying openly as the vehicle crawled towards his home.

The scale of grief was overwhelming. At the airport, staff were seen breaking down, many crying and shouting "Jai Zubeen da" (hail Zubeen brother). His wife, Garima Saikia Garg, who received the body, hugged the coffin and broke down, a moment captured in widespread media coverage.

The body was first taken to his home in Kahilipara before being moved to the Sarusajai Sports Complex. There, as reported by TOI, thousands filed past to pay their final respects to the artist who soundtracked their lives.

The state government will accord Garg a final farewell with full state honours on Tuesday, September 23. His cremation will take place at Hatimura, Kamarkuchi, a village near Guwahati.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the Singaporean authorities have issued a death certificate citing drowning as the cause. The state cabinet has extended official mourning through Tuesday.

A 10-bigha plot has been allotted at the site for a permanent cultural complex in his name. “The police investigation will begin after the cremation,” the Chief Minister stated after a cabinet meeting.

The family chose the location near Guwahati to spare the hardship of travel for Garg’s ailing, octogenarian father. To honour the sentiment of his hometown Jorhat, Garg’s ashes will be taken there for a second memorial.

A prolific artist, Garg’s 33-year career began with his 1992 debut album Anamika. He recorded nearly 38,000 songs, transcending linguistic boundaries to become a household name across multiple states.