Guwahati: Thousands gathered at Zubeen Kshetra in Kamarkuchi on the outskirts of Guwahati from midnight on Friday to mark singer Zubeen Garg’s first death anniversary on Saturday. His family, fans and prominent personalities, including singer Papon, paid tribute a year after his death. As his songs played at the memorial site, the commemoration also became a platform for demands for justice.Zubeen’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, offered prayers before his memorial with a lotus in her hand. His father, Kapil Thakur, arrived at Zubeen Kshetra in a wheelchair, accompanied by his daughter, Palmee.“We want the judicial process to be completed as soon as possible. And there is another request — why should it be done quickly? Because many of us Assamese people, or Hindu people, believe that a soul also exists. He will have to be reborn, or perhaps return as an artist again, or in whatever form it may be,” Papon told the media at Zubeen Kshetra.The large turnout at Zubeen Kshetra, the site of the singer’s cremation, highlighted his enduring popularity. An estimated 50,000 people arrived from across Assam and other states, including West Bengal. The rush triggered severe traffic congestion, with some vehicles taking at least three hours to cover the roughly 5-km stretch from Jorabat to Zubeen Kshetra.Leaders of Aasu, which shared a close association with Zubeen through various social initiatives, visited Zubeen Kshetra early on Saturday to pay tribute.Aasu chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said Zubeen’s thoughts, creations, voice and work inspired by his deep love for Assam would remain alive in the hearts of the people.“But all eyes are on justice for Zubeen. The legal process is under way, and everyone is keeping an eye on it. But the fire in our hearts continues to burn. And what is that fire? The guilty must receive the strictest possible punishment,” Bhattacharya said.The fire would be extinguished only when those found guilty in the case received exemplary punishment, he said. Otherwise, the people of Assam would not remain silent, he added.Aasu president Utpal Sarma said the responsibility now was to systematically preserve Zubeen’s work and carry his humanistic ideals forward among Assam’s younger generations.Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi also demanded that justice be delivered in the case as soon as possible and declared Sept 19 as “Zubeen Divas”.Zubeen had travelled to Singapore to attend the North East India Festival when he died on Sept 19, 2025, after drowning while swimming in the sea. The circumstances surrounding his death have since remained unclear.On his first death anniversary, Assam came together to remember the singer through a three-day observance being held as “Zubeen Divas”. From Saturday morning, fans and admirers across the state paid tribute by lighting earthen lamps before his portraits and playing his songs. In Jorhat, his hometown, residents also held a candlelight march to honour the singer and remember his musical legacy.
