Lighting Lamps for Zubeen Garg: Assam’s Diwali of Remembrance
Heramba Nath
This year, Diwali in Assam carries a depth of emotion unlike any before — a silence behind the lamps, a tear within every glow. The people of Assam, who for decades danced, dreamed, and healed through the melodies of Zubeen Garg, are lighting oil lamps in front of their homes not merely to celebrate the festival of lights, but to honour the eternal light that Zubeen brought into their lives. His sudden departure has left the heart of the state dimmed, yet this Diwali, every diya becomes a symbol of remembrance — a small flame of gratitude, love, and an unbroken connection between an artist and his people.
Across the state, thousands of mud oil lamps are being lit for the beloved singer who united Assamese hearts through his voice. Each flicker of these earthen flames reflects not only devotion to the divine but also to the soul of a man whose art, humility, and boundless energy made every Assamese proud. These simple mud lamps — crafted by local artisans — hold the emotions of an entire state within their fragile walls. The glow of each lamp is gentle, intimate, and deeply human, echoing the warmth that Zubeen’s music brought into homes, hearts, and minds across Assam.
Lighting a diya has always symbolised the victory of light over darkness, hope over despair, and knowledge over ignorance. This Diwali, the meaning deepens. For Assam, it is not just about ritual celebration; it is about remembering a son of the soil whose voice transcended generations, whose songs captured the essence of Assamese identity, and whose presence became a source of joy, comfort, and pride. Each flame, each flicker, becomes a quiet prayer — a hope that the light of Zubeen Garg will continue to shine in memory, in music, and in the collective soul of the people he so loved.
Families gather around the flickering lamps, watching the smoke rise and imagining it carrying their prayers to Zubeen’s departed soul. Children, who grew up listening to his songs, light their small mud lamps with reverence, guided by the stories of his kindness, humility, and dedication. For the elderly, the act is one of gratitude — gratitude for decades of music that comforted during hardship, celebrated joy, and united hearts across divides. Across Assam, a quiet harmony emerges: the rhythm of the lamps’ glow echoing the rhythm of a voice that can never be silenced.
This Diwali, Assam is not merely celebrating the triumph of light over darkness. It is celebrating the eternal bond between an artist and his people, a bond that no death can sever. The mud lamps — humble, fragile, yet radiant — reflect the simplicity and sincerity of Zubeen Garg’s life and art. Every flame is a song, every diya a tear of love, every flicker a memory of the joy he gave freely to all. Assam’s people know that though he may have departed, the light he carried will never fade.
This year, as the night sky of Assam is dotted with thousands of glowing mud lamps, the state remembers not just a singer, but a heartbeat, a cultural treasure, and a symbol of unity and hope. For Zubeen Garg, Assam’s eternal heartthrob, the festival of lights is transformed into a festival of remembrance, love, and gratitude, ensuring that his light will shine in every home and heart forever.