Draped in a traditional Assamese ‘gamosa’, Zubeen Garg’s mortal remains arrived in a glass casket at the Sarusajai stadium in Guwahati on Sunday afternoon. As a sea of people jammed the sports complex, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the mortal remains would be kept at the stadium throughout the night and also on Monday. Government announced four days of State mourning.
Thousands of people had to wait under a scorching sun for hours. Garg’s wife, Garima, who was accompanying the mortal remains, thanked his fans for showering their love. “Had Zubeen been alive today, he would have been overwhelmed by this show of love. He cannot express himself in words anymore, and on his behalf, I thank each of you,” she said, in between tears.
“It was because of this love and blessings that he had received during his lifetime that he could achieve so much within his short span of life,” she added. Garima, a renowned fashion designer herself, said Zubeen wanted all to live in peace and harmony, and the confluence of people of all regions, religions and communities has proven that he was for all.
“His creations will continue to remain with us, especially the youth whom he loved so much,” she said, appealing to the fans to pay their homage in a peaceful and disciplined manner. Family members, Ministers and senior Government
officers led in paying homage to Garg, bowing down, placing flowers and showing their love for the singer-composer.
In a post on X, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “More and more people wish to see our beloved Zubeen one last time, and we deeply understand these sentiments.”
“Therefore, Bhogeswar Baruah Stadium will remain open throughout the night today for the public to pay their respects to Zubeen. Tomorrow also, the mortal remains of Zubeen will be kept at Sarusajai for people to offer their homage,”
he added.
Thousands of grieving fans had thronged the venue since morning, while hundreds camped outside it overnight as the administration made elaborate arrangements to receive the body. Fans, holding aloft cut-outs of the beloved singer, sang his popular numbers through the night, sharing in each other’s sorrow.
The mortal remains of Garg, who passed away in Singapore on Friday, have been placed at a pandal inside the sports complex, with an alternate site prepared within the stadium premises in case of heavy rains. Many people had fainted and taken ill due to the heat in the forenoon.
Chief Minister on Sunday evening inspected a proposed cremation site in Sonapur, on the outskirts of Guwahati, for conducting the last rites. He said the location of the site will be finalised in consultation with Garg’s family by the evening. Garg (52), who was in Singapore to attend a festival, died while swimming in the sea without wearing life jacket on Friday.
The CM said that three of his cabinet colleagues, Ranoj Pegu, Keshab Mahanta and Bimal Bora, will soon meet Garg’s wife, Garima, and his immediate family to take a final call. “In consultation with Garima and nearest family members, we will finalise the location of the cremation venue by today evening,” Sarma added.
Pegu, talking to reporters after inspecting a site in Sonapur earlier in the day, said that the state government is scouting for a suitable venue in and around Guwahati, and options will be placed before his family to take the final call.
“We had held deliberations yesterday about Sonapur being a possible spot... we have other options as well,” Pegu said. “We will place the options before them and they will take the final call. Once the family decides, the final spot will be announced after the cabinet meeting this evening,” he added.
A demand was also made for Garg’s final resting place to be in Jorhat, where he had spent his formative years, with the Upper Assam town often deemed as the ‘cradle’ of his creativity.
However, people close to the family said that Guwahati or its suburbs could be the final choice as Garg’s octogenarian father will not be able to travel to Jorhat, more than 300 km from here.