Assam bid an emotional farewell on Tuesday to music icon Zubeen Garg, who was cremated with full state honours at Kamarkuchi on the outskirts of Guwahati.
Fans sang “Mayabini,” the song Garg had requested be played at his funeral, as thousands attended the procession under the sun. The track, first featured in the 2001 Assamese film Daag, was close to the singer’s heart.
The funeral began at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex and drew large crowds along the route. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Pabitra Margherita were among the dignitaries paying their respects.
Garg, 52, passed away while swimming in Singapore on September 19. A second post-mortem conducted at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital confirmed no foul play in his death. His family brought his dogs — Iko, Diya, Rambo, and Maya — for a final goodbye.
“The autopsy was already conducted in Singapore impartially. However, due to public demand, we decided to conduct a second post-mortem here with the consent of Garg’s wife, Garima Garg,” Sarma told reporters.
Schools and colleges across Assam were closed on Tuesday as the state mourned one of its most influential cultural figures, whose music shaped a generation.
-IANS
