Shillong, Sep 30: The Shillong Chamber Choir (SCC) paid rich tribute to Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg during the opening ceremony of the 14th Women’s World Cup at the ACA Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.
The choir’s homage, deeply rooted in love and respect, stood alongside special tributes offered by Shreya Ghoshal and Papon, together honouring Zubeen’s unmatched legacy and everlasting impact on Indian music.
“It was a proud moment for us to represent the North East and perform on such a global stage in Guwahati. Just like Zubeen Da, who was and will always remain the pride of Assam and India, we hope to carry forward the spirit of the region through our music,” the choir remarked.
The SCC, one of India’s most beloved and celebrated musical ensembles, presented a specially curated 8-minute set as part of the opening celebrations of the match.
Their performance took place immediately after the toss and before the National Anthem, captivating audiences with a seamless blend of music, culture, and sport. A highlight of the repertoire was their stirring rendition of “Vande Mataram”, which drew resounding applause for its patriotic fervor and emotional depth.
During the mid-innings break of India-Sri Lanka game, renowned Bollywood singer Shreya Ghosal captivated the 25,000-odd spectators with a 13-minute performance dedicated to Zubeen, blending a medley of his hits with the World Cup theme song, ‘Bring It Home.’
The stadium echoed with chants of “Joy Zubeen Da!” as fans waved banners in homage to the late singer, whose untimely death on September 19 in Singapore had plunged the state into mourning.
The emotional high point of the glittering ceremony came when Shreya concluded her performance with Zubeen’s iconic song “Mayabini Ratir Bukut”.
The song, which the late singer had wished to be sung by his fans after his death, reverberated through the ACA Barsapara Stadium.
Fireworks also lit up the sky, adding a celebratory contrast to the somber tribute.
The Assam Cricket Association had redesigned the opening ceremony to honour Zubeen blending the festive spirit of Durga Puja with the state’s grief.
“The match is being held on the cusp of two extremes — mourning for Zubeen Garg and the peak Durga Puja festival (Maha Ashtami),” BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia said.
“We wanted the opening ceremony to pay homage to the son of the soil.”
Five thousand tickets were reserved exclusively for members of the Zubeen Garg Fan Club, while 10,000 complimentary passes were distributed, ensuring his fans could be part of the historic moment.
Before the start of the match, the BCCI also felicitated former stalwarts of Indian women’s cricket to celebrate the growth and legacy of the game.
“Zubeen Da will always remain with us. He is Assam’s No. 1 icon. We may not have seen Bhupen Hazarika, but Zubeen was one of us, relatable and close to our hearts,” said a 23-year-old hotel management student.
Fans sported jerseys of Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj, while many also used the occasion to remember Indian cricket legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, with their jerseys spotted across the stands.
Twelve former captains were honoured: Shantha Rangaswamy, Diana Edulji, Shubhangi Kulkarni, Purnima Rau, Nilima Joglekar, Anjum Chopra, Sandhya Agarwal, Pramila Bhatt, Chandrakanta Kaul, Mamtha Maben, Mithali Raj, and Anju Jain.
Former Test and ODI cricketer Sudha Shah was also felicitated.
The contributions of Neetu David (former Chairperson, Women’s Selection Committee & ICC Hall of Fame recipient), Renu Margrate (Member, Women’s Selection Committee), and Shyama Dey (Member, Women’s Selection Committee) were also acknowledged. (With PTI inputs)
