The 14th Women’s World Cup kicked off with a grand ceremony this Tuesday. The ACA Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati was buzzing with excitement. But beyond the sports spectacle, a deeply touching musical tribute took center stage. Bollywood’s own Shreya Ghoshal honored the memory of the beloved late Assamese singer, Zubeen Garg.
During the break of the India-Sri Lanka match, Shreya Ghoshal delivered a powerful 13-minute performance. About 25,000 fans watched from the stands. Shreya blended Zubeen’s greatest hits with the energetic World Cup theme song, “Bring It Home.” Her beautiful rendition of Zubeen’s famous melodies visibly moved the crowd. Many fans were seen with tears in their eyes.
The atmosphere was incredibly emotional. As Shreya sang, chants of “Joy Zubeen Da!” filled the stadium. Fans waved banners, all paying respects to the musical legend. According to PTI, these emotional cheers echoed through the venue. Shreya concluded her special segment with Zubeen Garg’s cherished song, ‘Mayabini Ratir Bukut’. This particular song held deep meaning; Zubeen himself had wished for his fans to sing it after his passing.
The choice to dedicate the opening ceremony to Zubeen Garg was a heartfelt one. His sudden death on September 19 in Singapore had caused widespread sadness across Assam. The Assam Cricket Association decided to theme the event in his honor. Devajit Saikia, the BCCI Secretary, explained the reasoning. He noted that the match happened between a time of mourning for Zubeen and the festive peak of Durga Puja. They felt it was important to pay tribute to “the son of this soil” during the inaugural function.
To make sure Zubeen’s loyal followers could be part of this special occasion, extra efforts were made. Five thousand tickets were specifically reserved for members of the Zubeen Garg Fan Club. Additionally, ten thousand free passes were given out. This ensured many of his dedicated fans could share in the memorable tribute.
A 23-year-old hotel management student perfectly summed up the collective feeling. “Zubeen Da will always be with us,” she stated. “He is Assam’s number one icon. We may not have seen Bhupen Hazarika, but Zubeen was like one of us. He was very close to our hearts and connected with us.” Indeed, as Shreya Ghoshal sang his songs, the deep emotions of the fans were clear for all to see in the stadium.