The funeral of beloved Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has been recognized as the fourth-largest public gathering in the world, a testament to the immense love and respect the cultural icon commanded. The unprecedented outpouring of grief, which saw lakhs of people take to the streets of Guwahati, has been officially certified by the Records.
Zubeen Garg, a national sensation known for hits like “Ya Ali,” passed away on September 19 at the age of 52 after a tragic drowning incident in Singapore. The news of his death sent shockwaves across India, but it was in his home state of Assam that the true scale of his impact became clear.
Over the course of his final journey, from the moment his body arrived back in Guwahati on September 21 to his cremation on September 23, the city was brought to a standstill. Thousands of fans, many of whom had traveled from across the state, lined the streets, sang his songs, and wept openly to pay their respects.
The Records confirmed that the historic public gathering for Garg’s farewell is the fourth-largest of its kind, placing it in the same league as the funerals of global figures such as Michael Jackson, Pope Francis, and Queen Elizabeth II.
Garg’s funeral was more than a somber occasion; it was a collective expression of a state’s love for a man who was more than just a musician. He was a poet, actor, and activist whose music and message transcended generations, and his final journey home became a unifying moment of shared sorrow and remembrance.
