Guwahati: The passing of Zubeen Garg, Assam’s most beloved cultural icon, drew one of the largest funeral gatherings the country has witnessed in decades, a spectacle now etched in the Limca Book of Records.

On September 21, Guwahati’s streets became a river of grief as lakhs of admirers poured in to bid farewell to the 52-year-old singer, who died unexpectedly in Singapore on September 19 following a scuba diving accident. Despite urgent medical attention, he could not be revived. He had travelled abroad to perform at the North East Festival.

According to the Limca Book of Records, Garg’s last journey has been recognised as the fourth-largest public gathering globally for a funeral procession. It now stands alongside the monumental farewells accorded to Michael Jackson, Pope Francis, Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II.

For hours, normal life in Guwahati remained paralysed. Roads were choked with traffic, public offices wore a deserted look, and an overwhelming stillness gripped the city. Fans queued for long hours to offer flowers, light candles, and hum his songs, each gesture echoing the profound loss felt across Assam and beyond.

Nicknamed the “King of Humming”, Garg was more than a playback singer. He embodied a cultural renaissance that placed Assamese music on the national stage. His repertoire cut across languages and genres, with the chart-buster Ya Ali from Gangster (2006) establishing him as a household name across India.

The sheer scale of mourning reflected his place in the popular imagination. “It is not just the end of an artiste’s journey but the passing of an era of Assamese music,” remarked one mourner, tears streaming as Garg’s anthems played from loudspeakers.

Social media mirrored the emotion on the ground, flooded with images of the unprecedented crowds. Many observers described the moment as an unparalleled show of unity in grief, a testament to the singer’s rare ability to bridge generations and regions through song.

Born in 1972, Garg’s career spanned over three decades. He was known not only for his musical versatility but also for his fierce regional pride and commitment to preserving the Assamese identity in popular culture. Beyond Bollywood success, he was celebrated as a cultural torchbearer, shaping the soundtrack of everyday life in the Northeast.

His sudden death, however, has left an unfillable void. What endures is the music that will continue to bind his followers, as well as the memory of his farewell, one that joined the annals of history for its sheer magnitude.