Assam will bid final goodbye to Zubeen Garg with full state honours today
Guwahati: Assam’s beloved cultural icon and musical legend, Zubeen Garg, will be laid to rest on Tuesday with full state honours at Kamarkuchi NC Village near Sonapur, on the outskirts of Guwahati.
During a cabinet meeting on Sunday evening, officials decided to perform his last rites at this location, honoring the family’s request for a cremation site near the state capital.
Zubeen Garg, aged 52, tragically passed away on Friday in Singapore. Initial reports suggested a scuba diving accident, but later sources revealed that he entered the sea without a life jacket and drowned while swimming.
Medical teams rushed him to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead. Singapore authorities performed a post-mortem and then handed over his body to Indian officials.
On Monday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma personally visited the cremation site in Kamarkuchi-Hatimura to oversee the preparations and ensure all arrangements were in place for the final farewell.
Earlier today, a second post-mortem examination began at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Authorities preponed the procedure to avoid large crowds, as thousands of grieving fans had gathered outside GMCH since early morning for a final glimpse of the artist.
A special team of doctors from GMCH, Pragjyotishpur Medical College, and AIIMS conducted the autopsy. High-level officials from the state and district administrations, including top Assam Police and Health Department personnel, monitored the entire process.
After officials complete the medical formalities, they will transport Zubeen’s mortal remains in a specially arranged vehicle from GMCH to Sarusajai Stadium, where thousands will gather to pay their final tribute.
His last journey will then proceed to Sonapur, accompanied by family members and senior dignitaries.
The Assam government had earlier declared a three-day state mourning, later extending it by a day to mark the cremation ceremony. Flags remain at half-mast across government offices.
Prominent figures, including Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, and dignitaries from across the political spectrum, have arrived to pay homage. In an emotional tribute, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan also sent his condolences, underscoring Zubeen’s influence beyond national borders.
In a powerful display of collective grief, Zubeen’s song "Mayabini" echoed through the streets of Guwahati as fans lit candles and sang his most cherished tracks.
Assamese singer Dikshu Sarma shared, “His voice was the soul of Assam. Though he is gone, his music will keep him alive in every Assamese heart.”
Zubeen Garg directed and acted in his final film, Chakra, alongside Victor Banerjee, and the team will release it posthumously, adding another layer to his lasting legacy.