Silchar Shines Bright: 300+ Kali Puja Pandals, One Emotion — Zubeen Garg

From the outside, Silchar — the buzzing cultural capital of Southern Assam and the pride of Barak Valley — looks like it’s living its brightest Diwali and Kali Puja season in years. Every street glows with lights, every lane hums with devotion. Rows of diyas flicker in harmony as bustling markets and crowds of pandal-hoppers turn the town into a living canvas of colour, faith, and festivity.

With over 300 Kali Puja pandals spread across the town, the scale of celebration in this small yet significant urban centre is remarkable. Silchar alone accounts for nearly a third of the estimated 1,000–2,000 pujas observed across the Barak Valley — a reflection of how deeply faith and festivity are woven into its social fabric.

Walk through any part of Silchar — from Hailakandi Road to Tarapur, from Rangirkhari to Itkhola — and you’ll find creativity in full bloom. This year’s themes range from Operation Sindoor to Maha Kumbh Mela, Snow World to folk art-inspired installations. Each pandal stands out in imagination and execution — a testament to craftsmanship, community spirit, and cultural pride.

Yet, despite this diversity, one emotional thread connects them all — Zubeen Garg.

Across pandals, large and small, his image can be seen everywhere — garlanded, illuminated, remembered. The air reverberates with his songs, and “Mayabini” has almost turned into the anthem of the season, sung and hummed with heartfelt affection.

Zubeen’s bond with Barak Valley runs deep. Having spent part of his childhood in Karimganj district, he has long been a household name here. But after his untimely demise, that affection has evolved into something much deeper — a collective emotion that unites faith and fandom.

For many, this year’s Kali Puja feels like a shared homage — a way of celebrating not just a festival, but the legacy of a voice that defined generations of Assamese music lovers.

From whispered prayers to loud cheers of “Moi Kanchanjunga!” echoing his iconic movie line, Silchar’s devotion this Diwali is more than religious — it’s personal, emotional, and deeply human.

“Earlier, each pandal competed for the grandest decor — this year, they’re united by Zubeen da,” said a local resident from Itkhola. “It feels like his music has become part of our prayers.”

Silchar’s Kali Puja is more than a spectacle of lights and art. It’s an assertion of identity — a celebration of creativity, community, and collective memory. And in the heart of this vibrant Barak Valley town, one truth rings louder than any loudspeaker:

The themes may differ, but love for Zubeen Garg connects them all.

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