Guwahati: A year after the sudden demise of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg, Assam continues to resonate with his voice as thousands of fans, family members, artistes and well-wishers gathered across the state on Saturday to observe his first death anniversary.
At the heart of the commemorations stood Zubeen Kshetra in Sonapur, the memorial site near Guwahati where Garg was cremated with full state honours last year, as people paid tribute through prayers, songs and cultural programmes.
The three-day observance, supported by the Assam government’s Cultural Affairs Department and marked as Zubeen Divas, began on September 17 with interfaith prayers and naam-prasanga. Cultural programmes followed on September 18, while Saturday featured Bhagawat recitation, Bhaona performances and further tributes dedicated to the singer-composer who died at the age of 52. Fans from distant parts of the state travelled to the site, some covering hundreds of kilometres, lighting lamps, offering gamusas and singing Garg’s popular numbers that have long defined Assamese cultural life.
The students body—All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) organised Puhorore Saaki Gosi programmes at district headquarters statewide, featuring performances of Garg’s songs and cultural activities. The BJP also conducted a statewide blood donation drive across its organisational districts as a mark of respect. At the memorial, the AASU leaders joined fans and family, reiterating calls for justice in connection with the circumstances of his death. Artistes including Angaraag ‘Papon’ Mahanta were present, urging continued support for younger performers who keep Garg’s compositions alive.
Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, who has been closely involved in the commemorations, spoke of the family’s ongoing wait for clarity. “We have to get justice. The process is on… We want to know what really happened on the 19th of September in 2025 in Singapore. We are still waiting for that answer,” she said.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who joined a blood donation camp organised by his party, described the loss as a void one learns to live with but can never fully accept.
Zubeen Garg, widely regarded as one of Assam’s most influential contemporary cultural figures, died on September 19, 2025, while swimming during a private yacht outing near Lazarus Island in Singapore, a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival. Singapore authorities ruled the death an accidental drowning with no evidence of foul play. In Assam, however, a Special Investigation Team has filed charges against seven people, with four facing murder charges, a special fast-track court in Guwahati continues to hear the case.
Beyond the memorial gatherings, Garg’s presence remains visible in everyday Assam—through murals on city walls, his songs played in homes and on Bihu stages, and the enduring affection of fans who still refer to him affectionately as “Zubeen da.” (
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