What Zubeen Garg meant to Assam: A 30km journey from airport to home turns into a 7-hour pilgrimage

GUWAHATI: From the distant shores of Singapore to Assam, Zubeen Garg’s journey back to the land that shaped his soul became a poignant symphony of love, loss, and legacy. The state welcomed the emotional arrival of their cherished cultural paragon on Sunday morning.

With tears in their eyes and his songs on their lips, Zubeen’s final journey through a 30-km stretch from the airport to his residence in Kahilipara was a river of grief and devotion. The six-lane national highway transformed into a living tribute. What should have been a brief 30-km drive turned into a seven-hour odyssey of love, loss, and reverence, where every step was steeped in reverence.

As the ambulance carrying the mortal remains of Zubeen, accompanied by his wife, Garima Saikia Garg, made its way into the city, it transformed into a river of emotion as it met a massive sea of fans and followers. The ambulance was decorated with garlands of marigold, tuberose, and other flowers.

Crowds began gathering outside the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at Borjhar, on the outskirts of the city, since the previous night, singing his songs. After waiting for hours, thousands chose to walk the entire stretch, side by side with the vehicle, as if escorting a loved one home, refusing to let him travel alone. People across all age groups offered tributes with flowers throughout the stretch.

Tears flowed freely. Songs filled the air. In that long procession at a snail’s pace through Guwahati’s streets, Assam didn’t just mourn — it celebrated a life that touched millions.

Zubeen, who was the brand cultural ambassador of the North East India Festival, went to Singapore on Sept 17 to take part in the festival. He had a show in the festival on the evening of Sept 20. However, he breathed his last on September 19 while swimming in the sea in Singapore.

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After the autopsy, Zubeen’s mortal remains were brought to India and reached Delhi on Saturday at midnight. From there, the mortal remains were flown to Guwahati at 4.30am and landed here at around 6.30 am.

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who received Zubeen in Delhi, said the casket carrying the mortal remains from Singapore was too large to be accommodated in any chartered flight, despite sustained efforts for over two hours, which delayed the departure from Delhi.

Zubeen’s body reached his home at Kahilipara at around 1.30pm after a journey of around seven hours from the airport. It was kept there for about one hour before taking it to Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex at Sarusajai, popularly known as Sarusajai Stadium, for fans and admirers to pay their tribute. People will be able to pay tribute until Monday evening.