'Jai Zubeen Da': Assam Bids Farewell As Mortal Remains Of Ya Ali Singer Reach Guwahati

Assam woke up to heartbreak on Sunday as the mortal remains of Zubeen Garg arrived in Guwahati. The streets outside Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport were packed with thousands of grieving fans, singing his songs and chanting “Jai Zubeen da” one last time. For the people of Assam, this was not just a farewell – it was their final concert with the voice they grew up with. The singer passed away at 52 in Singapore after suffering a seizure while swimming at Lazarus Island.

Also read: Zubeen Garg’s Mortal Remains To Be Placed At Sarusajai Stadium In Guwahati For Public Tribute

A sea of fans at the airport

His wife, Garima Saikia Garg, was among those to receive the casket at the airport as Zubeen Garg’s body arrived in Guwahati. State

officials accompanied her as the singer’s flower-decked ambulance moved slowly through the crowd. Fans held cut-outs, waved gamosas with “Z G Forever” woven in, and wept openly.

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Convoy carries his jeep and huge portrait

Leading the procession was Zubeen’s favourite open jeep, the same one he often used for concerts. This time, it carried his giant portrait, with his bandmates standing by his side for the last ride. Assam DGP Harmeet Singh and Guwahati Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta walked in front of the vehicle to clear the way.

Public tribute at sports complex

The singer’s body was first taken to his Kahilipara residence so his family, including his 85-year-old father, could say their goodbyes. From there, it was placed at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, where thousands lined up since last night to pay homage.

In his post, the Chief Minister mentioned that people will be allowed to visit from 9 am to 7 pm, with special arrangements in place to handle the large crowd expected. The message read: “The Government of Assam, with deep sorrow, informs that the mortal remains of Shri Zubeen Garg, an artist larger than life, a cultural icon, filmmaker, and the eternal heartthrob of millions, will be kept at Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex (Sarusajai Stadium) tomorrow, September 21, from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, for friends, followers, and admirers to pay their last respects.”

The post further added: “All are requested to extend their cooperation in ensuring that the final journey of Assam’s beloved son is conducted with dignity and becomes a farewell to be remembered for all time.” In another update, the Chief Minister informed that a cabinet meeting will be held at 6 pm on Sunday to finalise the cremation venue for the late singer.

Awaiting final rites

The Assam Cabinet will decide the cremation venue later in the day. Earlier, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, had received Zubeen’s body in Delhi before it was flown to Guwahati. The singer passed away in Singapore after drowning in the sea.

Zubeen Garg songs

Zubeen Garg was a famous singer who recorded over 38,000 songs in many languages, including Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and Bhojpuri. He sang romantic songs, dance numbers, devotional tunes, and patriotic tracks. Some of his popular songs were Ya Ali, Dilruba, Monor Khobar, and Moner Manush. His music was loved by fans across India for its melody and emotion.