GUWAHATI: Assam government has postponed to tomorrow the funeral of Bhupen Hazarika in view of the huge turnout of people wanting to pay their last respect to the music legend.
"People from all parts of the state have descended on Judges Field where his body has been kept and have queued up since 3 am. It will not be possible for all to pay their respect till 2 pm today," Assam Culture Minister Pranati Phukan said.
In view of the situation, the government has decided not to cremate the body today and has rescheduled the funeral to 7 am tomorrow, she said.
All shops and business establishments remained closed and public transport off the road, but people walked all the way to the venue where Hazarika's body, draped in traditional Assamese 'gamosa', was lying inside a glass casket.
The state government had declared a state holiday today and following the postponement, all offices and other institutions would remain closed till 12 noon tomorrow, Phukan said.
The last rites will be conducted at Shishu Udayan in the Guwahati University campus in Jalukbari area by his only son Tez Bhupen Hazarika.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be represented at the funeral by DONER Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar.