As Guwahati hosts an influx of fans and journalists for the ongoing Test match between India and South Africa, many visitors are making an unexpected but emotionally-charged detour to a place that has swiftly become a cultural landmark in the state. Zubeen Xetra in Sonapur, the memorial dedicated to the late cultural icon Zubeen Garg, has emerged as one of the most frequented destinations for those arriving in the city.
One of the earliest visitors this week was Rupesh Singh, a journalist associated with a leading Hindi daily in New Delhi. Singh, who grew up in Barak Valley and remembers listening to Zubeen in his childhood, visited the site on Thursday and said the experience left a lasting impact. For him, the scale of devotion surrounding Zubeen was beyond anything he had imagined.
“I was awestruck while speaking to the cab driver on my way to Guwahati. I could realise that more than a musician, Zubeen was a great human being. That says a lot about why people love him so much,” Singh told The Statesman.
Over the past several weeks, a steady stream of people from across Assam has been visiting the memorial, some offering flowers, others standing in silence, and many simply soaking in the emotion of being close to an artist they admired. The place has quickly begun to resemble a pilgrimage spot, drawing all who seek to connect with the legacy of a cultural icon whose influence extends far beyond the state.
That emotional pull has also reached journalists covering the Test. A Delhi-based scribe from a news agency, confessed he had not grasped the depth of Zubeen’s following until he arrived in Guwahati. He recalled being familiar with a handful of Zubeen’s Hindi tracks, particularly ‘Hum Khushi Ki Chah Mei’ from Life Mei Kabhi Kabhi, while he only discovered the Assamese classic ‘Mayabini’ after Zubeen’s passing.
“I was not aware of his cult image. I am truly amazed to see the overflow of love and emotion that people have for him,” he said. He hopes to visit the memorial once the match ends.
The interest extends beyond the press box. Ramesh Ganguly, a businessman from Kolkata visiting the city for work and taking in the Sunday action at the ACA Stadium, said he too intends to stop by Zubeen Xetra before heading home.
“Some of my friends in Bengal were discussing visiting the Zubeen memorial site. But as I had to come for some work, I decided to visit with my alliance. My friends will come in December. Zubeen was also popular in Bengal and we love many of his songs,” said Ganguly.
For many arriving in Guwahati this week, the Test match remains the central attraction. Yet for a growing number, the trip feels incomplete without a quiet visit to Sonapur, a place where the legacy of one of Assam’s most cherished sons continues to resonate deeply, one visitor at a time.