The sudden demise of Asaam’s heartthrob Zubeen Garg has dampened Durga Puja celebrations across the State, with several puja committees toning down festivities and cultural programmes in his memory.
In Guwahati and other districts, organisers cancelled entertainment events and kept celebrations limited to rituals. All puja pandals displayed portraits of Zubeen Garg, with devotees offering floral tributes and prayers for the celebrated artist.
All Durga Puja Committees admitted that though preparations had begun weeks earlier, they chose restraint in view of the loss.
Unlike other years, no major traffic congestion was reported in the streets. The number of stalls, balloon sellers and toy vendors was visibly fewer. On social media too, the festive chatter was muted, with people refraining from posting celebratory pictures. Instead, the hashtag #JusticeForZubeen has been trending since his passing.
Across the State, Zubeen Garg’s songs were played in puja venues, turning celebrations into quiet tributes. For many, this year’s puja became a moment of collective mourning rather than festivity.
The 52-year-old singer passed away on September 26 in Singapore. North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and late Zubeen Garg’s manager, Siddhartha Sharma, have been arrested by Assam Police in connection with his death case.
