The mortal remains of Assam’s beloved singer and cultural icon, Zubeen Garg, arrived in Guwahati on Sunday morning, as tens of thousands of grieving fans gathered to pay their last respects. The 52-year-old artist passed away in Singapore on Friday following a tragic swimming accident.

Garg’s body was first flown to Delhi and then transported to Guwahati on a commercial flight that landed around 7 am. An emotional scene unfolded at the airport, where his wife, Garima Saikia Garg, broke down as she placed a traditional Assamese gamosa and flowers on the casket. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, and other senior officials were present to receive the body.

From the airport, a flower-decorated ambulance carried Garg’s body slowly through the city to his residence in Kahilipara, accompanied by family, friends, fellow musicians, and a large police escort. Thousands of people lined the streets, showering petals on the casket, waving banners, singing his songs, and chanting his name as a final tribute.

After a brief private moment with family members at his home — including his 85-year-old father — the body was taken to the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex in Sarusajai, where it will lie in state for public homage throughout the day. Fans had already begun camping near the venue overnight, and crowds continued to grow as the day wore on.

Shops and markets across parts of Assam remained closed as people mourned the loss of an artist who had recorded more than 38,000 songs in over 40 languages and dialects during a career that spanned more than three decades.

Assam minister Ranoj Pegu stated that the government is currently exploring suitable locations in and around Guwahati for Garg’s cremation. The final decision will be left to the family.

For many in Assam and beyond, Zubeen Garg was more than just a singer — he was a voice of the people, a cultural force, and a symbol of Assamese identity. His final journey has now become one of the largest public outpourings of grief in the state's recent history.