A year after the death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, hundreds of fans gathered at Zubeen Khetra in Sonapur on Saturday, September 19, as Assam marked the first death anniversary of the music icon.
The temporary memorial site on the outskirts of Guwahati drew fans, family members and artistes, with people singing Garg’s songs and paying tribute to the singer. A three-day programme organised by the Assam government’s Cultural Affairs Department began on Thursday and concluded on Saturday.
Garg died on September 19, 2025, leaving behind a large body of work in Assamese and other Indian-language music and cinema. His death was followed by widespread public mourning across Assam and demands for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
On Friday, singer Angaraag ‘Papon’ Mahanta visited Zubeen Khetra and met Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg. Papon said younger people should be encouraged to sing Garg’s compositions rather than being criticised for mistakes.
“I think that it is a beautiful sight that so many young people are singing their hearts out to Zubeen’s songs. It is not the right time to point out their mistakes; we should encourage them to sing his songs. The mistakes can be rectified later on,” Papon said.
Veteran actor Arun Hazarika also visited the memorial and reiterated the demand for justice in Garg’s death. He said the large turnout reflected continued public interest in the singer’s legacy.
“We want justice for Zubeen, but this should not be at the cost of injustice to someone else,” Hazarika said.
Hazarika also welcomed the re-release of Garg’s last film, Roi Roi Binale, in several theatres across Assam on Friday and said the singer’s artistic works should be preserved for future generations.
Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi also visited Zubeen Khetra and urged the Assam government to declare September 19 a public holiday as ‘Zubeen Divas’. He also criticised the government over the pace of the investigation into Garg’s death and the incomplete development of Zubeen Khetra.
“It is unfortunate that even a year after his passing, even the boundary walls of Zubeen Khetra have not been constructed,” Gogoi said.
The three-day observance drew fans from across Assam to Sonapur, with the temporary memorial becoming a focal point for tributes to Garg.
