Assam will pay its final respects to Zubeen Garg on Tuesday, honoring the beloved cultural icon with full state honors. As mourners gather in unprecedented numbers across Guwahati, questions surrounding the circumstances of his death in Singapore continue to arise. The 52-year-old singer-songwriter tragically passed away while swimming in the sea last Friday. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed on Sunday that the Indian High Commission received the death certificate from Singapore, which states the cause of death as drowning, and has requested an autopsy report.
Garg’s cremation is set to occur at Hatimura, in Kamarkuchi NC village, located eight kilometers from Guwahati. The Assam government has designated a 10-bigha plot of land to establish a cultural complex in his memory. “Today, we are focused on Zubeen’s final farewell,” Sarma remarked following a cabinet meeting. He added that a police investigation will commence post-cremation. The cabinet extended official mourning by an additional day, through Tuesday, reflecting the deep sorrow felt across the state since Garg’s passing.
A massive crowd waited in anticipation to pay homage as Zubeen Garg’s body arrived in Guwahati from Singapore via Delhi. Chief Minister Sarma and his cabinet colleagues were present at the Delhi airport to receive the coffin. The singer rested at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati, where countless fans expressed their grief. “Thank you for loving him so deeply,” said Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg. “Please keep him alive like this-in your songs, your hearts, your memories.”
While many residents of Garg’s hometown, Jorhat, hoped to hold the final rites there, the family opted for a location closer to Guwahati to alleviate travel difficulties for his elderly father. “We discussed both proposals. Zubeen is not a member of the government, and his family holds the authority to make such decisions. The government can only suggest, not decide,” the Chief Minister explained. To honor the sentiments of Jorhat, Garg’s ashes will be taken to the town for a second memorial.
Garg was a prolific artist, skilled in over a dozen instruments and credited with nearly 38,000 recorded songs throughout his impressive 33-year career, which began with his debut album, Anamika, in 1992. His music transcended linguistic barriers, resonating across various languages, including Assamese, Hindi, and Bengali, and solidifying his status as a household name.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/thousands-pay-homage-to-zubeen-garg-as-body-arrives-home/articleshow/124035655.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-09-22 07:33:00
