By Allen Brooks
Guwahati, Sept 21, 2025: Thousands came to the streets of Guwahati on September 21 to accompany the flower-draped hearse carrying the mortal remains of Zubeen Garg, Assam’s legendary singer and cultural icon.
Garg died at 2:30 pm on September 19 at Singapore General Hospital, following breathing complications during a scuba diving excursion. He was 52. He was in Singapore to perform at the North East India Festival, a platform he championed for cultural unity.
Assam observed three days of state mourning.
Garg’s final journey brought together the people of Assam, reminding them of their roots, history, heritage and culture. Shops were shuttered as Garg’s mortal remains were taken to Sarusajai Stadium for a public farewell from 9 am to 7 pm, and later to cremation.
From early dawn, people poured in from across the state. Mourners held hands and sang Garg’s favorite “Mayabini Ratir Bukut” (In the magical night’s embrace).
Hundreds swelled outside Garg’s Kahilipara home, spilling onto roads, while at the airport, the crowd turned briefly chaotic, needing police nudges to flow safely.
Born on November 18, 1972, in Tura, Meghalaya, and raised in Jorhat, Assam, Garg was named after the renowned conductor Zubin Mehta. Though born into an Assamese Brahmin family, he identified as irreligious, often rejecting caste and religious labels. His inclusive spirit and cultural rootedness made him a bridge across communities.
Over a career spanning three decades, Garg sang in more than 40 languages and played over a dozen instruments. His breakout Bollywood hit “Ya Ali” from Gangster brought him national fame, but he remained deeply committed to Assam’s folk and devotional traditions.
Among his cherished Christian offerings, the hymn “Prabhu Mor Jibonor Bondhu” (“Lord, My Life’s Companion”) became a staple in church choirs and youth fellowships.
The Assam Christian Forum, representing the state’s Christian community, extended condolences to his parents, wife Garima Saikia Garg, and other family members. Churches across Assam have been urged to hold prayer services for the repose of his soul.