On Sunday morning, thousands of mourners poured onto the streets to catch a farewell look of their favourite performer as the body of well known Assam musician Zubeen Garg started its final trip home from Guwahati airport in Kahilipara.
With people of all ages and backgrounds lined the streets and sprinkling flowers on the ambulance bearing the legendary singer's mortal remains, the convoy scuttled through a sea of humanity in an emotionally charged atmosphere.The 25 kilometer journey from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to his home in Kahilipara could take several hours.
His wife, Garima Saikia Garg, placed an Assamese 'gamosa' on the coffin and paid floral tributes as the casket was first removed from the luggage portion of the plane and held close to the runway as the flight carrying his body landed from Delhi.
When Garima saw the coffin, she sobbed and gave it a hug.
Those who had gathered around the escapee, including airport employees and passengers who had arrived on the same flight, wept as the casket was eventually placed inside the ambulance adorned with flowers.
Garima rode in the ambulance with his body as it left the airport via the VIP exit.
The coffin was adorned in flowers, including jasmine and marigolds, and 'gamosa'.
Senior state government representatives were there at the airport to accept the body in addition to his spouse.
As the convoy made its way slowly past the crowd outside the airport, thousands of admirers could be heard yelling "Jai Zubeen da" and singing his songs.
They were shown carrying cutouts of the singer and the traditional Assamese "gamosa" with the words "Z G (Zubeen Garg) Forever" woven in it as they wailed, "Why Zubeen da, why did you have to leave us so soon."
Guwahati Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta and Assam Director General of Police Harmeet Singh were observed moving in front of the ambulance to make room for it.
With his enormous portrait in the front, the convoy also included the singer's favoured car, an open jeep, which he frequently used to get to performance locations. The car was filled with his band.
