Guwahati, September 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Hundreds of fans, family members and artistes gathered at Zubeen Khetra in Sonapur on Saturday to mark the first death anniversary of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg, paying tribute to the singer and renewing calls for justice in connection with his death.
The temporary memorial site, where Garg’s last rites were performed on the outskirts of Guwahati, remained a focal point for admirers. Fans sang his popular songs and paid homage to the artiste whose work made a lasting contribution to Assam’s cultural landscape.
A three-day commemorative programme organised by the Assam government’s Cultural Affairs Department began on Thursday and concluded on Saturday.
Garg died on September 19 last year during a sea outing in Singapore, a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East Festival. His death led to widespread mourning across Assam and demands for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding it.
Singer Angaraag ‘Papon’ Mahanta visited Zubeen Khetra on Friday and met Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg. Addressing the gathering, Papon urged people to encourage young singers performing Garg’s compositions rather than concentrating on their mistakes.
“It is a beautiful sight that so many young people are singing their hearts out to Zubeen’s songs,” Papon said, adding that mistakes could be corrected later.
Veteran actor Arun Hazarika, who also visited the memorial, reiterated the demand for justice while cautioning that the pursuit of justice should not result in injustice to anyone else.
“We want justice for Zubeen, but this should not be at the cost of injustice to someone else,” Hazarika said.
He also welcomed the re-release of Garg’s final film, Roi Roi Binale, in several theatres across Assam. Recalling his association with the singer, Hazarika said Garg had been his neighbour and they would often speak whenever they met.
Meanwhile, Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi urged the Assam government to declare September 19 a public holiday as ‘Zubeen Divas’. He also questioned the pace of the investigation into Garg’s death and raised concerns about the incomplete development of Zubeen Khetra, including the absence of boundary walls.
The memorial continued to draw fans from across Assam, who gathered to honour Garg’s artistic legacy and voice their demand for accountability.
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