Assam Gorkha Organisations Appeal to Cancel Entertainment Events During Durga Puja and Dassain in Honour of Lohitkantha Zubeen Garg

Nanda Kirati Dewan, KalimNews, Guwahati, September 26, 2025: Five major Gorkha organisations of Assam — the Assam Gorkha Sammelan (AGS), All Assam Gorkha Students' Union (AAGSU), Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP), Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee (GACDC), and Assam Gorkha Kalalar Sangha (AGKS) — have expressed profound grief over the untimely demise of the legendary singer, actor, musician, and filmmaker, Lohitkantha Zubeen Garg.

The organisations have described Zubeen Garg as a cultural icon whose immense contributions to music, cinema, and society at large will be remembered for generations. They emphasized that Garg’s passing is not only a personal loss to Assam but a national tragedy, as his influence transcended regional borders, earning him love and respect from millions of admirers both in India and abroad.

“Zubeen Garg elevated Assamese music to the global stage, bringing pride to every Assamese. His works carried powerful messages of peace, harmony, and social unity that resonated with people across various regions,” the statement read.

Recognising him as one of the finest voices of his generation, the organisations reflected on how Garg’s voice was cherished not only in Assamese but also in Hindi, Bengali, and Gorkhali music. With over 40,000 songs recorded in nearly 40 languages across India, Garg’s absence leaves a monumental void in the art and cultural landscape of the Northeast.

In a show of respect and solidarity, the Gorkha organisations have decided to hold statewide condolence meetings, candlelight vigils, and prayer assemblies in collaboration with district committees and affiliated branches. They have also announced plans to organize a state-level memorial discussion in the near future.

In a collective gesture, all major state-level Gorkha organisations in Assam have unanimously decided to cancel all entertainment programmes scheduled during the upcoming Durga Puja and Dassain Sammelan celebrations. The decision is a mark of respect and tribute to Zubeen Garg, whose sudden passing has left the state and the nation in deep mourning.

The leaders of the Gorkha community — Krishna Bhujel (President, Assam Gorkha Sammelan), Sunil Kumar Chettri (President, All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union), Amar Adhikari (President, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, Assam State Committee), Harka Bahadur Chetry (President, Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee), and Tilok Newar (President, Assam Gorkha Kalakar Sangh) — have jointly appealed for nationwide tributes from the Gorkha community to honour the legacy of this great artiste.

In addition to cancelling entertainment events, the organisations have urged all Durga Puja committees to play Zubeen Garg’s songs during the puja period, as a tribute to the late artiste. The leaders have called for religious programmes and prayers to be conducted in his memory during the Durga Puja and Dassain festivities, ensuring that his contributions to music and culture are forever cherished.