Zubeen Garg’s Final Farewell: Assam Bids Emotional Goodbye to a Cultural Icon
Zubeen Garg was cremated with full state honors in Kamarkuchi NC village, Assam, as thousands of mourners gathered to pay their final respects.
As Texas Republican leader Alexander Duncan faces criticism for opposing a 90-foot Hanuman statue in Sugar Land, Texas, citing the U.S. as a "Christian nation," a very different scene of unity and reverence unfolded thousands of miles away in Assam, India, where the state bid an emotional farewell to legendary singer Zubeen Garg.
Garg’s funeral was held with full state honors in Kamarkuchi, drawing thousands of fans, dignitaries, and grieving family members. His wife, Garima Saikia Garg, broke down in tears during the final rituals, overwhelmed with grief as chants, songs, and solemn prayers echoed through the air.
The late singer’s body, transported to the cremation site after a second post-mortem at Gauhati Medical College Hospital, was placed on a flower-decked podium under a white canopy beside the funeral pyre. Vedic hymns were recited by priests from early morning, and Assam Police personnel gave him a ceremonial gun salute before the last rites.
Prominent leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Kiren Rijiju, and Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, were among the many who attended the funeral. Several leaders knelt to offer floral tributes, paying respect to an artist who was more than just a singer—he was a cultural movement.
Fans from across the state gathered in massive numbers, some even climbing nearby hills for a glimpse of the ceremony. Chants of “Long Live Zubeen” and “Jai Zubeen Da” filled the air, and the crowd sang “Mayabini Ratir Buku,” one of Garg’s most beloved songs and one he had reportedly wanted to be played at his funeral.
Garg’s final journey began from the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex in Guwahati, where thousands paid their last respects before the body was taken to his ancestral village.
His passing has left a deep void in Assam’s cultural landscape. Zubeen Garg was not just a singer—he was the voice of a generation, a symbol of Assamese pride, and a beloved icon whose legacy will continue to inspire for years to come.