Unique tribute: Bhelaghar shaped like late Zubeen Face
As Magh Bhogali Bihu nears, young residents of Milanpur, Raha have erected an approximately 30-foot Bhelaghar inspired by the late Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, reflecting deep local sentiment and mourning intertwined with cultural celebration.
GUWAHATI- Milanpur village in the Raha area of Assam’s Nagaon district has witnessed a distinctive cultural gesture as Bhogali Bihu approaches: the construction of an about 30-foot-high Bhelaghar(traditional festive structure) inspired by and shaped like the likeness of late Assamese singer Zubeen Garg.
The towering structure was built over recent weeks by 14 young men from surrounding villages, who worked collaboratively using bamboo, straw and traditional materials. It has quickly become a major attraction for residents and visitors alike.
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Bhogali Bihu — also called Magh Bihu — is the harvest festival celebrated across Assam in mid-January. One of its hallmarks in rural areas is the erection of Bhelaghars and Mejis, bonfire platforms and huts around which community feasts, bonfires and celebrations take place. Traditionally, these structures symbolise abundance, community spirit and thanksgiving after the harvest.
This year’s Bhelaghar in Milanpur is shaped in the image of Zubeen Garg’s face, a tribute to the late singer whose songs, especially Bihu numbers, have been deeply embedded in the state’s cultural life. Garg passed away in 2025, and since then many communities have found ways to express their grief and honour his legacy through public memorials, statues and artistic homages.
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Locals and visitors have flocked to see the unique structure. Volunteers said the tribute reflects how integral Zubeen Garg’s music was to celebrations like Bihu, where his voice and compositions were staples at functions, gatherings and performances.
For many residents, building the Bhelaghar in his likeness is a way to symbolically include his presence in this year’s festivities, even in his physical absence.
As the festival days draw closer, the Milanpur Bhelaghar stands both as a cultural symbol of community creativity and as a testament to the emotional impact the late artist continues to have on Assamese society.
