This Diwali, the heart of Guwahati’s business hub, Fancy Bazar, will glow not with electric lights or bursting fireworks, but with the soft, flickering light of thousands of earthen lamps lit in memory of Zubeen Garg, Assam’s most loved singer and cultural icon.
In a moving gesture that has already touched the hearts of countless fans, the Fancy Bazar Friends Club has decided to dedicate this year’s Diwali entirely to the memory of Zubeen Garg, who passed away in Singapore on September 19. The decision reflects the deep emotional connection that the people of Assam share with the late artist, whose songs have been an inseparable part of Assamese life for over three decades.
The organisers have announced that this year’s Diwali will be simple, quiet, and reflective, without the usual decorative lights, loud music, or fireworks that normally fill the busy commercial streets of Fancy Bazar. Instead, rows of clay lamps will line the shops, streets, and crossings — each flame symbolising love, respect, and remembrance for the man whose voice once lit up every celebration in Assam. 
Speaking to reporters, a member of the Fancy Bazar Friends Club said, “Zubeen da’s voice was our light. This Diwali, we don’t need electric bulbs or crackers. The diyas will be enough to remember him.” The group has invited all residents and shop owners of Fancy Bazar to take part in the silent tribute by lighting diyas on Diwali night instead of setting off fireworks.
