A month on, Assam mourns Zubeen’s death as family, fans await answers on his final moments

Even though a month has passed since the death of cultural icon Zubeen Garg, the people of Assam continued to mourn the loss, seeking answers to the singer’s final moments.

Garg died while swimming in the sea in Singapore on Sunday, September 19, 2025.

Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, said the family and the people of the state are waiting to know what happened in Garg’s last moments and expressed faith in the legal system to bring out the truth.

Hundreds of people have flocked to Garg’s cremation ground at Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati since Sunday morning, October 19, 2025, to pay their respects to their beloved singer-composer.

Fans and friends of the singer-composer also visited his home in Kahilipara area of ​​the city and his studio in Zoo Road area to be with his family and remember him.

The 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police’s CID is probing his death and seven people have been arrested so far.

Singapore Police is also investigating and SIT officers from Assam are set to visit the Southeast Asian Nation as part of their own investigation.

Vedic rituals on this occasion were organized by the family at Garg’s studio and were attended by Garg’s father, wife, sister and others.

Speaking to reporters outside the studio, Ms. Garima said, “The studio was very dear to her. Since the first rituals were performed at our home and in Jorhat, we decided to perform the Vedic rituals here after a month.”

When asked to comment on the police investigation into Garg’s death, he said: “We have confidence in the investigation. If not our own legal system, who do we trust? Zubeen was an outspoken person and we want an open investigation.”

“We are all waiting peacefully to know what happened. The people of Assam are waiting to know what happened in his last moments,” Ms. Garima added.

Italian opera singer Gioconda Vessichelli, with whom Garg worked in his yet-to-be-released film, also reached Guwahati to pay his respects to the cultural icon.

“Zubeen used to say this too [Ms. Garima] He is his tiger who is with him in good times and bad times. And she was right,” said Singer Vessichelli, standing next to Miss Garima.

He recalled his earlier visit to Guwahati to shoot with Garg, where he contacted his family.

“There is so much love in the family. I feel that Zubeen da is here. I feel that the gods have done justice to Zubeen Garg,” Ms. Vessichelli added, referring to the thousands of people who came out and attended the funeral procession to pay their last respects to Garg’s body.

Fans came to Garg’s final resting area, where thousands of visitors flocked last month, with private vehicles and buses.

“We booked two buses and we are a group of over 100 people. We wanted to be here with Zubeen da and pay our respects,” said a woman from Boko in Kamrup district.

Another group of women from West Karbi Anglong district arrived with a framed photograph of Garg as a mark of their last respects.

People brought ‘gamosas’ (Assamese scarf) with written lyrics, photographs and other items in front of the cremation ground, and also lit earthen lamps and incense sticks.

Fans chanted slogans such as ‘Joi Zubeen’ and ‘Justice for Zubeen’ on the site. ‘Naam’ (Vasihnavite prayer songs) were sung on the field by people from different places, with programs featuring Garg’s songs and others lined up for the day.