Guwahati : The tea gardens of Upper Assam resonated with music, emotion, and remembrance on Monday night as cultural functions held on the occasion of Lakhi Puja were devoted entirely to the late legendary singer Zubeen Garg.
” Zubeen Da sang for the people and the people sang for him last night, that is how we will keep his memory alive.” Ramdhan Tanti, president,Sri Sri Lakhi Puja Udyapan Samiti, Beesakopie Chah Bagicha 2 number line said.
At the Beesakopie Tea Estate, where Zubeen once shot scenes for his 2007 film Mon Jae( released in 2008 )and performed at the “10 No Line Karam Function,” residents gathered to honour the singer’s enduring connection to their community.
“We devoted the entire cultural night on Monday to the legendary singer Zubeen Garg,” said Dev Tanti, secretary of Sri Sri Lakhi Puja Udyapan Samiti, Beesakopie Chah Bagicha 2 No Line. “After the Lakhi Puja rituals, an open-stage cultural programme was held where artists performed songs of our beloved cultural icon.”
The emotional evening saw performances of Zubeen’s most beloved tracks, many of which were sung in Sadri Bhasa—a language close to the heart of Assam’s tea tribe community.
” We dedicated the entire cultural evening to pay homage to Zubeen Da who will always remain in our hearts . After the rituals we held an open stage programme featuring his evergreen songs.” Ramdhan Tanti said .
His songs, often portraying themes of joy, struggle, and daily life in the tea gardens, have long made him a symbol of unity among the people of the region.
Similar tributes were reported from Sadiya, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, and Jorhat, where tea workers and locals held cultural nights in remembrance of the artist.
“Zubeen da’s music speaks our language of happiness, sorrow, and dreams. We see ourselves in his songs,” said a young performer from Dibrugarh Tea Estate.
Zubeen Garg’s bond with the tea garden communities of Upper Assam remains deep-rooted, not just through his music but also through his genuine affection for the people. His visit to Beesakopie in 2007 left a lasting impression, as locals still recall how he mingled freely with tea garden residents during the filming of Mon Jae and performed at their traditional Karam festival.
Monday night’s heartfelt tributes reflected that eternal connection between a singer and the soil that loved him back.