Zubeen Garg cremated with full state honours as thousands bid tearful farewell
Guwahati: Legendary Assamese singer Zubeen Garg was cremated on Tuesday with full state honours at Kamarkuchi, Sonapur, near Guwahati. Thousands of fans, dignitaries, and family members gathered to pay their final respects to the cultural icon, who passed away on September 19 in Singapore.
The ceremony was marked by a sea of emotional fans, many of whom had traveled to the village to witness the final rites. Chants of “Long Live Zubeen” and “Jai Zubeen Da” filled the air, as admirers sang along to his hit song Mayabini Ratir Bukut, a song Zubeen had wished to be played at his funeral.
Zubeen’s mortal remains, kept at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex since Sunday for public homage, were taken to the cremation site in a flower-decorated ambulance, wrapped in a traditional Assamese gamosa, and placed in a transparent coffin.
The final rites were performed by Garg's younger sister, Palmi Borthakur, along with his close associates Arun Garg and Rahul Gautam Sarma, who also lit the funeral pyre. The cremation was preceded by a ceremonial 21-gun salute from Assam Police personnel.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with several Union ministers and senior leaders, were in attendance. Many paid floral tributes, going down on their knees to honour the singer. The sight of Garg's wife, Garima Saikia, breaking down during the ceremony added to the solemn atmosphere.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, doctors at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital conducted a second post-mortem before the body was transported. A large crowd had gathered at the sports complex and later at Sarusajai Stadium to pay their last respects.
The final rites were marked by powerful emotions and full ceremonial protocol. Assam Police accorded a gun salute to honour Zubeen’s immense contribution to the state’s culture.
Following this, his younger sister, Palmee Borthakur, lit the pyre, performing the final rites on behalf of the family. She was joined by Arun Garg, a digital creator and close associate, and Rahul Gautam Sharma, a writer, actor, and family friend.
Zubeen and his wife, Garrima Saikia Garg, did not have children, making his sister the natural choice for performing the rituals.
High-profile leaders and dignitaries, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Sarbananda Sonowal, and Assam Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, were present. Representatives from organisations like Assam Sahitya Sabha, AASU, and AJYCP also paid their respects, underlining Zubeen’s impact beyond music.
Around 85 family members and close friends travelled in a convoy to Kamarkuchi, where mourners had already gathered in large numbers.
Many carried posters, flowers, and traditional symbols as a tribute to the artist who had become the cultural heartbeat of Assam.
Meanwhile, in Jorhat, Zubeen’s childhood hometown, fans blocked a national highway on Sunday, demanding that his last rites be conducted there. The protest reflected the deep connection between the artist and the people of Jorhat.
Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita, a close friend of Zubeen for over 30 years, expressed his grief, saying: “I’m still struggling to accept that Zubeen is gone. Maybe the reality will sink in over the coming days.”
In one of the most heart-wrenching moments of the day, Zubeen’s four pet dogs — Diya, Rambo, Maya, and Iko — were brought by his family to bid him farewell. Sharing the emotional moment, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma posted:
“For Zubeen’s dogs, he was not just an owner; he was family. Today, they mourn with us.”
Zubeen Garg tragically passed away in Singapore on Friday after drowning while swimming in the sea, just a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival. His sudden demise has created an irreplaceable void in Assam’s cultural landscape.
As Assam lit the pyre, it was not merely a farewell to a man, but the cremation of a voice that resonated with the aspirations, struggles, and spirit of a generation.