Mourners numbering in the tens of thousands flooded the streets of Assam state in ‘s northeast on Tuesday to say their goodbyes to much loved musician, Zubeen Garg.
The 52-year-old, known for his flamboyant and often irreverent style, died in a drowning incident last week in Singapore, where he had been due to perform.
Garg accorded 21 gun salute
Garg was cremated on Tuesday, with full state honours along with a 21-gun salute as a sign of respect.
That came after the conclusion of a second post-mortem on the singer’s body, to rule out any foul play.
Large crowds gathered for Garg’s funeral in Guwahati city and sang along to his popular songs.
The musician, described by many as an irreverent iconoclast, chose to sing mainly in Assamese and other local dialects.
He was also known for his on-screen performances, having collected a number of awards for his roles in Assamese cinema.
Messages of condolence
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Assam state had “lost one of its favourite sons” with four days of mourning declared.
“Zubeen’s voice had an unmatched ability to energise people and his music spoke directly to our minds and souls,” Sarma said in a statement.
“He will be remembered for his rich contribution to music,” Prime Minister said in a condolence message on X, shortly after Garg’s death.
“His renditions were very popular among people across all walks of life,” Modi said.
Garg is survived by his wife Garima Saikia Garg.
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko
The post Mourners in India celebrate the life of Zubeen Garg appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
