Assam Govt Blacklists North East Festival Organiser Following Singer Zubeen Garg's Passing

The Assam government on Wednesday barred Syamkanu Mahanta, chief organiser of the North East Festival, from holding any event in the state following the death of singer Zubeen Garg, who had travelled to Singapore to attend the festival.Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the decision on X, saying, "The state government has decided to prohibit Shri Syamkanu Mahanta and any organisation associated with him from holding any functions or festivals within Assam."Garg, one of Assam's most popular cultural icons, died on September 19 while swimming in the sea in Singapore, where he was attending the fourth edition of the festival organised by Mahanta and his company.Sarma added that the state would also block all forms of financial support.

"Further, the state government will not provide any financial grant, advertisement or sponsorship to any event with which he is associated, either directly or indirectly," he said. He further noted that Assam would ask the Centre not to extend any assistance to Mahanta "in any manner".The North East Festival has been sponsored by several central ministries and enjoys support from almost all northeastern state governments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-suid723Io

Garg’s sudden death sparked a wave of grief across Assam. The 52-year-old singer was cremated on Tuesday at Kamarkuchi on the outskirts of Guwahati with full state honours. Thousands of fans gathered to sing his songs as priests chanted Vedic hymns and the Assam Police gave him a gun salute.His sister, Palme Borthakur, and his protégé, music composer Rahul Gautam, lit the funeral pyre, while his wife, Garima Saikia Garg, and his ailing father, Mohini Mohan Borthakur, attended the ceremony alongside family, friends, and political leaders.Union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal, Kiren Rijiju and Pabitra Margherita joined Chief Minister Sarma and state officials in paying floral tributes. Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi and Pradyut Bordoloi, AGP MP Birendra Prasad Baishya and several student bodies and cultural organisations also paid their respects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acksigzIgzs

The state government has announced that memorials will be built in Garg’s memory at Kamarkuchi and in Jorhat, where his 13th-day rituals will be held. A portion of his ashes will remain with the family, while the rest will be kept by the Department of Cultural Affairs to be shared with organisations seeking to honour him.Garg, who sang more than 38,000 songs in multiple languages, was revered as a voice of Assam and the Northeast. His funeral turned into a massive public farewell as people raised slogans of "Zubeen, Zubeen" and "Jai Zubeen da".