Guwahati, Sept 23: Not far from Meghalaya, where he was born, Assam’s celebrated singer and heartthrob Zubeen Garg was consigned to flames.
The place where he was cremated is Hatimura, Kamarkuchi NC Village under Panbari Mouza of Sonapur Revenue Circle in Kamrup (Metro).
The mortal remains of Assam’s beloved cultural icon arrived in Sonapur at around 10:55 AM, drawing thousands of fans who thronged the route to pay their last respects.
His younger sister, Palme Borthakur, lit the pyre, performing the final rites on behalf of the family. She was joined by Arun Garg, a digital creator and close associate, and Rahul Gautam Sharma, a writer, actor, and family friend. Around 85 family members and close companions travelled in a convoy to Kamarkuchi, where mourners had already gathered in large numbers.
The atmosphere was heavy with grief as priests chanted verses from the Bhagavad Gita, their slokas echoing through the cremation ground. Many in the crowd broke into tears as the rituals unfolded. A 21-gun salute and full state honours were accorded to the singer, underlining his stature as one of Assam’s greatest cultural figures.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Sarbananda Sonowal, and Assam Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary were among the dignitaries present. Representatives from Assam Sahitya Sabha, AASU, and AJYCP also paid their respects, reflecting Zubeen’s impact beyond music and into the heart of Assamese society.
His wife, Garima Saikia Garg, wept inconsolably as the flames rose, surrounded by fans who mourned alongside her. Zubeen and Garima had no children, making his sister the natural choice to perform the last rites.
For three days, Zubeen’s mortal remains had been kept at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, allowing the public to pay homage. From there, his body was taken to Kamarkuchi in a flower-decorated ambulance, wrapped in a traditional Assamese gamosa and placed in a transparent coffin, giving devotees a final glimpse of their icon.
Born Zubeen Borthakur on November 18, 1972, in Tura, Meghalaya, he went on to become one of the most influential voices of Assam and the Northeast. A singer–songwriter, composer, actor, and philanthropist, he created a legacy that transcended borders and languages.
He was the son of Mohini Mohon Borthakur, a magistrate, lyricist, and poet who wrote under the pen name Kapil Thakur, and late Ily Borthakur, herself a singer. Named after the world-renowned composer Zubin Mehta, he later adopted the stage surname “Garg,” derived from his gotra, in the 1990s.
Zubeen’s death has triggered an unprecedented outpouring of grief. From the King of Bhutan, who sent a special envoy to pay tribute, to millions of fans across Assam and beyond, the love pouring in reflects his stature as more than a singer—he was an institution, an emotion.
Chief Minister Sarma summed it up: “Zubeen’s songs touched countless lives in India and beyond. This is reflected in how His Majesty the King of Bhutan sent a special representative to pay tribute. He was truly a global phenomenon, gone too soon.”
Gone too soon indeed, Zubeen Garg leaves behind a legacy that transcends music. Assam, and the entire Northeast, will remember him not just as a cultural icon, but as a voice that lived in every heart.
As he wished, all of Assam rises in unison, singing Mayabini to honour his memory.
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