In a deeply emotional ceremony on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the ashes of revered Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg were immersed into the sacred waters of the Brahmaputra River. This final farewell took place 37 days after his cremation, which was attended by countless mourning followers.
A special ferry carried his wife, Garima, along with his sister Palme Borthakur, other relatives, and close friends from Lachit Ghat to the middle of the river in Guwahati. After a series of brief, solemn rituals, Ms. Garima gently released her husband’s ashes into the flowing river from two clay pots, marking a profound moment of closure and remembrance.
Following the immersion, Ms. Garima shared her raw emotions in Assamese on social media, writing: “Assam’s land, sky, wind, and now the vast Brahmaputra… You are the sole occupant of the hearts of both people and nature.” She continued with a poignant message: “See you again one day soon… I’ll talk about reincarnation, I’ll write new stories for you and me. But now, we need to know what really happened to you on that cursed day. #JusticeForZubeenGarg.”
Separately, Arun Garg, a close associate whom Zubeen considered family and who was one of four individuals to light his funeral pyre, also immersed a portion of the ashes in the Brahmaputra River in Jorhat, the singer’s cherished hometown.
The celebrated artist tragically passed away on September 19 while swimming in the sea in Singapore, where he had been attending the 4th North East India Festival. His body was brought back to Guwahati and laid to rest with full state honors on September 23 in Kamarkuchi village, Sonapur, on the outskirts of the city. Thousands of fans gathered, singing his iconic songs in a collective outpouring of grief and tribute, a testament to the immense impact he had on their lives. Over 10 lakh people had visited the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex to pay their last respects before his cremation.