Fans take out the E-Rikshaw procession to pay respects to Assamese singer Zubeen Garg in Guwahati on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Ani
The mortal remains of popular singer Zubeen Garg arrived at Guwahati airport on Sunday (September 21, 2025) morning as thousands of fans gathered to welcome the artist home one last time.
His wife, Garima Saikia Garg, and senior state government officials were at the airport to receive the body. The remains were taken from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport through the VIP exit in a flower-bark ambulance.
Thousands of fans were heard singing his songs and shouting ‘Jai Zubeen da’ as the convoy navigated the crowd outside the airport. Wailing, ‘Why Zubeen da, why did you have to leave us so soon’, they were seen holding cutouts of the singer and the traditional ‘gamo-gamo’ with the words ‘ZG (Zubeen Garg) forever’ woven into it.
Assam Director General Harmet Singh and Guwahati Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta were seen walking in front of the ambulance to clear the way for the vehicle.
The singer’s favorite vehicle, an open-top jeep, which he often traveled to performance venues, was also part of the convoy, with his large portrait positioned at the front. His musical team was present in the vehicle.
People arrived in Guwahati from across the state to pay their last respects to their favorite singer, who mesmerized for three decades with over 38,000 songs sung in 40 languages and dialects.
People started gathering since last night outside the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex where his body will be kept to allow the public to pay their last respects.
Garg’s remains will be taken to his Kahilipara residence, where they will be kept for about an hour and a half for his family members, including his ailing 85-year-old father, to pay their last respects. Later, it will be taken to the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex for people to pay their respects from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
The details of the last rites have not yet been finalized. The Assam cabinet will meet on Sunday evening to decide on the cremation venue.
Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that the coffin carrying the singer’s body could not be accommodated on any chartered flight and was flown to Guwahati from Delhi on a regular flight.
The flight carrying Garg’s body left New Delhi at 4:30 am
The body arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi around midnight from Singapore, where he died a day earlier while swimming in the sea without a life jacket.
CM Sarma received the singer’s body at the airport and paid his respects. He was accompanied by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Assam government officials stationed in the national capital.
Published – September 21, 2025 08:18
