Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma led millions of people of the State in offering his heartfelt respect to cultural icon Zubeen Garg after his accidental death in Singapore on an ill-fated afternoon of September 19, 2025. Not only was the Chief Minister personally present at the tarmac of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi to receive the mortal remains of Zubeen Da, as the singer was fondly addressed by millions of his fan, arrived on the wee hours of September 21 but he led from the front in planning and executing the final journey of the deceased musician and filmmaker.
Dr Sarma called off all his official engagements for days together and declared a four-day State mourning to accord a fitting farewell to the legendary artist Coordination with authorities in Singapore (for legal and medical formalities), family of the deceased artiste, and taking control of a State in grief besides necessary arrangement for millions to pay their last respect to Zubeen were planned with perfection by the State Government with the Home & Politcal Department, the Information and Public Relations Department and the Cultural Departments directed to take charge of various works and programmes leading to the funeral of the singer.
The Chief Minister took to the social media to express his innermost thoughts on X, “Paid homage to our beloved Zubeen at Delhi airport. To be honest, his demise is yet to sink in-it all feels like a bad dream. Travel safe, Zubeen! You will live on in each of our hearts- FOREVER.”
While humming deep in his hearts Zubeen’s cult song, Mayabini Ratir Bukut, Dr. Sarma stated Assam will carry the weight of your immortal legacy.
Arrangements were put in place for the mortal remains of the singer to pass through the thorough fare of the city to his residence in Kahilipara and then to the Arjun Bhogeswar Barua Stadium after the flight carrying his body landed in Guwahati. Hundreds of thousands of his fans lined-up and followed his body to the stadium. In view of what was transpiring among his fans, the State Government kept two days for the mases to pay their tribute to their cherished icon. Nearly a million of his fans went in person to the Stadium to have a last look at their hero.
According to the Chief Minister, a sea of humanity united in a farewell to their favourite son. He lived like a king, he is being sent to heaven like one.
The Chief Minister personally ensured that in all these, his family was being discussed for their opinion and wishes. The outcome of one such discussion was the cremation site in Kamarkuchi, Sonapur where Zubeen was laid to rest on September 23 cremated with State honours. The site was made ready in two days.
Draped in gamosa, the mortal remains were kept inside a temperature-controlled glass coffin, and were taken to Kamarkuchi from the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex in a flower-decked ambulance. His 85-year-old father Mohini Mohan Borthakur, wife Garima Saikia Garg, and other family members and relatives accompanied him on his final journey.
His countless fans followed the ambulance and many more lined the highway between Guwahati and Sonapur to catch a glimpse of the superstar for one last time. Thousands gathered at the cremation site and chants of “Joi Zubeen Da” rent the air and Mayabini in unison as the body consigned to the flames amid gun salutes, and teary eyes.
Representative from the Government of India, various State agencies, indigenous organisations and artistes paid their last respects to Assam’s heartthrob.
In his tribute, the Chief Minister posted, “The last time I got to see beloved Zubeen. From now on`he will live in Assam’s soul, mind and hearts. Farewell Zubeen. There will never be another you. We will forever keep you alive through your songs and thoughts. Have always been, will always be a Zubeen fan. Om Shanti!
The site will now be constructed as a memorial of the deceased singer.
Another outcome of the discussion with the musician’s family was that his ashes be taken to his ancestral town of Jorhat where lakhs paid tribute on him on October 1.
In an unprecedented move to pay its respect to the singer, the Cultural Affairs Department collected the ashes of Zubeen to preserve them. Informing this, Cultural Affairs Department Minister Bimal Bora told the media, “As Zubeen Garg belonged to the people of Assam, an online portal will soon be launched for any organization or institution in Assam that wishes to request a portion of these sacred ashes. Based on applications, ashes will be provided as per prescribed rules. In addition, a part of the ashes will be sent to Jorhat for the construction of a second memorial for the legendary artist.”
The day-long ceremony in Jorhat drew over one lakh well-wishers from all walks of life across the State. Nearly 2,000 devotees from Namghars such as Dhekiakhowa Bor Namghar and Moinaporia Namghar took part in mass prayers, devotional singing and chanting. The rituals were performed with grandeur as 100 Gayan Bayan performed devotional songs, while 500 others rendered the Diha Naam.
The deceased singer’s wife Garima Garg along with 45 relatives attended the event. “Jorhat has contributed immensely in shaping Zubeen’s cultural life. Although we had to perform his final rites in Sonapur due to his father’s health, today, through this mangalik ritual, we all are united in praying for his peaceful journey beyond life,” said Garima while speaking to the media.
Minister Bimal Bora who personally supervised the arrangements in Jorhat posted in X, “Jorhat– a place intertwined with the memories of our beloved Zubeen’s life. Today, as we commence the sacred 13th day ceremony for the eternal peace of his departed soul, offered floral tributes to his ashes. ZubeenGarg will forever remain immortal among us.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and State Cabinet Minister Atul Bora were among those present in the ceremony.
