Published: 08:09 AM, 23 September 2025
Countless fans throng to pay last tributes to Zubeen Garg
Countless numbers of fans devoted to Assamese singer Zubeen Garg blocked the national highway in Assam's Jorhat for several hours on Sunday demanding his mortal remains be brought to the city where the singer, who died drowning in Singapore last week, spent the initial years of his musical career.
Zubeen Garg had an accidental death in Singapore while swimming in the sea on Friday, a day before he was scheduled to perform at North East India Festival (NEIF). Zubeen Garg's body was brought to Delhi on Sunday and was received by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Bishwa Sharma.
The body was later flown to Guwahati, where thousands poured out onto the roads to pay their last tributes to Zubeen Garg.
Amid demands for cremation in Jorhat or at least bringing the mortal remains one last time there, the Assam chief minister said that the singer's body was not in a condition to be taken there and again brought back to Guwahati for cremation.
Jorhat Police posted a traffic advisory on X in the early hours of Monday saying the National Highway 37 (NH37) was blocked near Ajanta bypass just before entering Jorhat town from west.
The body was later flown to Guwahati, where thousands poured out onto the roads to pay their last tributes to Zubeen Garg.
Amid demands for cremation in Jorhat or at least bringing the mortal remains one last time there, the Assam chief minister said that the singer's body was not in a condition to be taken there and again brought back to Guwahati for cremation.
Jorhat Police posted a traffic advisory on X in the early hours of Monday saying the National Highway 37 (NH37) was blocked near Ajanta bypass just before entering Jorhat town from west.
The Chief Minister informed Zubeen Garg will be cremated with full state honours on 23 September 2025 at Kamarkuchi NC village near Guwahati.
The Assam chief minister said Zubeen Garg's wife Garima Saikia Garg and sister Pamle Borthakur pointed out that it would not be possible for his 85-year-old ailing father to go Jorhat for the last rites and even later during anniversaries or other rituals, it would be difficult for the family to go there.
The decision on Zubeen Garg's cremation was taken during a cabinet meeting, considering the family's wish that his last rites be performed at a place in or around Guwahati, PTI news agency quoted Sharma as saying at a press conference.
''Three of my cabinet colleagues - Ranoj Pegu, Keshav Mahanta and Bimal Borah - and also a delegation of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) had discussed the matter with his wife and she had conveyed the family's decision to hold the last rites in Guwahati," Sharma said.
Besides, Zubeen Garg had lived in Guwahati for the most part of his life, the Chief Minister said and added that Zubeen Garg's ashes will be immersed in Jorhat, paying honour to the desire of the people of the city who love the demised singer.
The Assam chief minister said Zubeen Garg's wife Garima Saikia Garg and sister Pamle Borthakur pointed out that it would not be possible for his 85-year-old ailing father to go Jorhat for the last rites and even later during anniversaries or other rituals, it would be difficult for the family to go there.
The decision on Zubeen Garg's cremation was taken during a cabinet meeting, considering the family's wish that his last rites be performed at a place in or around Guwahati, PTI news agency quoted Sharma as saying at a press conference.
''Three of my cabinet colleagues - Ranoj Pegu, Keshav Mahanta and Bimal Borah - and also a delegation of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) had discussed the matter with his wife and she had conveyed the family's decision to hold the last rites in Guwahati," Sharma said.
Besides, Zubeen Garg had lived in Guwahati for the most part of his life, the Chief Minister said and added that Zubeen Garg's ashes will be immersed in Jorhat, paying honour to the desire of the people of the city who love the demised singer.
