The North East India Festival in Singapore has been called off following the death of Assamese singer and cultural icon, Zubeen Garg. The 52-year-old artist passed away on September 19, 2025, in Singapore, where he was scheduled to perform at the festival on September 20 and 21.
Garg's death occurred after he experienced breathing difficulties while swimming during a yacht trip. Reports indicate that he went scuba diving and suffered a seizure. He was given CPR and rushed to Singapore General Hospital, where he was declared dead in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) around 2:30 PM India time.
The organizers of the North East India Festival released a statement expressing their profound grief and announcing the cancellation of the event. "This is a monumental loss, and words cannot express the depth of our grief. In light of this tragedy, we are cancelling the event. We are devastated and pray for the departed soul of Zubeen Garg," the statement read. They added that they are working closely with the Indian High Commission in Singapore to complete the necessary procedures.
According to the organizers, Garg had arrived in Singapore two days before the tragedy and was scheduled to participate in the festival. They later learned that he had been taken on an unplanned yacht visit by members of the local Assamese community. It was during this excursion that he went for a swim, suffered seizures, and despite being given CPR and rushed to the hospital, could not be saved.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his condolences and stated that the state had lost one of its favorite sons. "I am in a loss of words to describe what Zubeen meant for Assam… His voice had an unmatched ability to energize people and his music spoke directly to our minds and souls. He has left a void that will never be filled," Sarma said. He also mentioned that he had spoken to the Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, Shilpak Ambule, regarding bringing Garg's body back to Assam.
News of Garg's death has prompted widespread tributes across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other high-profile figures have expressed their condolences.
Zubeen Garg, born Zubeen Borthakur on November 18, 1972, was a prominent figure in the Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi-language film and music industries. He was known for his versatility and had sung in over 40 languages and dialects. Garg gained national fame with his hit song "Ya Ali" from the Bollywood film "Gangster".
In Assam, an FIR has been lodged against Shyamkanu Mahanta, Zubeen's manager, and another individual. The complaint seeks action against those responsible for the circumstances leading to Garg's death.
The North East India Festival organizers emphasized that Garg's visit to the yacht was unplanned and without their knowledge. "We later learned that a few members of the local Assamese community had taken him on a yacht visit, of which we had no prior knowledge," the organizers stated.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Zubeen Garg went swimming without a life jacket. Sarma mentioned that there is a video showing Garg jumping into the sea with a life jacket, returning to the yacht, and then jumping in again without the life jacket.
