The renowned singer Zubeen Garg, who passed away in Singapore on Friday, September 19, 2025, will be cremated with full state honors on September 23 near Guwahati. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made this announcement on Sunday, September 21, 2025, following a cabinet meeting. The cremation will take place at Kamarkuchi NC village.

The decision to cremate Zubeen near Guwahati was made considering the wishes of his family. Minister Ranoj Pegu stated that Zubeen's family preferred a location near Guwahati to enable his 85-year-old father to attend the funeral and to allow for frequent visits to the site later. While there were requests from residents of Jorhat, where Zubeen spent his formative years, to have the cremation there, the family's preference was ultimately prioritized. Chief Minister Sarma emphasized that Zubeen belonged to the people, and therefore, his family's choice should be given precedence.

Zubeen Garg tragically died in Singapore while swimming in the sea without a life jacket. Initial reports suggested a scuba diving accident. The Singapore government has issued a death certificate stating the cause of death as drowning. Chief Minister Sarma mentioned that the Indian High Commission in Singapore has sent the death certificate, and a request has been made for the postmortem report.

Following his demise, the Assam government initially declared a three-day mourning period until September 22. However, this has been extended by another day to coincide with the cremation. During this period, there will be no official entertainment, ceremonial programs, or public celebrations.

In the wake of Zubeen's death, a complaint has been filed against the festival organizer, Shyamkanu Mahanta, and Zubeen's manager, Siddharth Sharma, alleging negligence and mismanagement. The Assam government has transferred the investigation to the CID.

Thousands of fans have gathered to pay their last respects to the beloved singer. The Bhogeswar Baruah Stadium in Sarusajai was kept open throughout the night of September 21 to allow the public to pay homage. The mortal remains will also be kept at Sarusajai on September 22 for the same purpose. The outpouring of grief and love from fans across the state highlights Zubeen Garg's immense popularity and cultural significance in Assam.