Thousands pay last respects to the beloved Assamese singer during his cremation ceremony in Kamarkuchi village.
Assamese singer Zubeen Garg was cremated with full state honours and a 21-gun salute at Kamarkuchi village, located about 20 kilometers from Guwahati, on Tuesday. Garg, who was 52 years old, passed away on September 19 due to a scuba diving accident in Singapore. At the time of his death, he was in the country to participate in the North East Festival, a three-day event set to commence on the same day. A death certificate issued by Singaporean authorities on September 20 indicated that his cause of death was drowning.
On Sunday, his body was transported back to Guwahati, where it was met with an overwhelming outpouring of grief from fans. The ambulance carrying Garg’s body made a 30-kilometer journey from the airport to his home in Kahilipara, which typically takes about an hour. However, due to the sheer volume of admirers lining the route, this journey extended to nearly seven hours. The streets were filled with lakhs of fans, all eager to pay their last respects to the beloved artist.
Prior to the cremation, Garg’s body was placed at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex for over 48 hours, allowing thousands to come and pay their respects. The following Tuesday, a significant number of people walked alongside the ambulance and gathered along the highway, wanting to bid farewell to the iconic singer one last time. Many also congregated at the cremation site, illustrating the profound impact Garg had on his community and beyond.
Actor and filmmaker Kenny Basumatary remarked on the crowds, stating that the admiration displayed was genuinely earned by Garg himself. He emphasized that the massive turnout was entirely organic and a testament to the love and respect the singer commanded. “This kind of love can’t be bought or faked,” he noted, reflecting the deep connection Garg had with his fans.
Zubeen Garg was born in 1972 in Meghalaya and made significant contributions to the Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi-language film and music industries. Over the course of his career, he sang in more than 40 languages and dialects, showcasing his versatility as an artist. His 2006 rendition of ‘Ya Ali’ from the Hindi film Gangster marked a turning point in his career, propelling him to national fame. Other notable Hindi tracks he performed include ‘Subah Subah’ and ‘Kya Raaz Hai,’ further solidifying his status as a prominent figure in Indian music.
