CM Himanta announces Bhupen Hazarika centenary closing at Bharat Mandapam
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced the grand closing ceremony of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika's birth centenary on 29 November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, to be held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Key Takeaways
The closing ceremony of Dr.
Bhupen Hazarika's birth centenary is scheduled for 29 November 2026 .
The venue is Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi , India's premier convention complex.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present at the ceremony.
The announcement was made by CM Dr.
Himanta Biswa Sarma via the official Chief Minister's Office account on 6 November 2026.
Bhupen Hazarika was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2019 and was born on 8 September 1926.
A hundred years after the birth of the voice that became Assam's soul, the curtain comes down in New Delhi's grandest hall. Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Friday, 6 November 2026 that the grand closing ceremony of the birth centenary celebrations of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika will be held on 29 November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi — and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the occasion.
A centenary year ends on the national stage
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika — born 8 September 1926 in Sadiya, Assam — was a composer, singer, lyricist, and filmmaker whose music bridged Northeast India with the rest of the country and the world. The Government of India awarded him the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour, posthumously in 2019. His centenary year, running through 2026, has been marked by cultural programmes and tributes across Assam and beyond under the banner #BhupenDaAt100.
Choosing Bharat Mandapam — the sprawling convention complex in New Delhi that has hosted G20 sessions and national summits — as the venue for the closing ceremony is itself a statement: a regional cultural icon being honoured at India's most prominent public stage, with the Prime Minister in attendance.
Modi's presence elevates the ceremony's national weight
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously invoked Bhupen Hazarika's legacy in his public addresses, and his participation in the closing ceremony will be watched closely as a signal of the central government's cultural engagement with Assam and the broader Northeast — a region that has been a consistent political and developmental priority for the BJP-led government. The event is also expected to draw artists, scholars, and cultural figures who have carried Hazarika's musical tradition forward.
What 29 November is set to look like
The Chief Minister's Office described the event as a 'grand closing ceremony', suggesting a large-scale cultural programme rather than a purely administrative function. With a video accompanying the announcement, the government signalled that the event is being positioned as a moment of national cultural memory — not merely a state-level milestone. No further details on the programme schedule or guest list have been officially confirmed as yet.
When the music of a river-and-rain poet fills the vaults of Bharat Mandapam, an entire centenary will find its crescendo.
Point of View
It is an opportunity to frame cultural pride as a bridge between regional identity and national belonging — a consistent political motif. The choice of venue and the PM's participation also reflect a broader pattern of the central government investing symbolic capital in Northeast India, a region it has prioritised both electorally and developmentally. Whether the ceremony translates into lasting institutional support for Hazarika's musical legacy — archives, foundations, or educational programmes — will be the real measure of the centenary's impact.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the closing ceremony of Bhupen Hazarika's birth centenary?
The closing ceremony is scheduled for 29 November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi , in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Who announced the Bhupen Hazarika centenary closing ceremony?
Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement on 6 November 2026 through the official Chief Minister's Office account on X.
Why is Bhupen Hazarika celebrated as a Bharat Ratna?
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was a legendary Assamese singer, composer, lyricist, and filmmaker whose music celebrated the culture of the Northeast and resonated nationally. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna , India's highest civilian honour, posthumously in 2019.
What is #BhupenDaAt100?
#BhupenDaAt100 is the official hashtag marking the year-long birth centenary celebrations of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, who was born on 8 September 1926. The celebrations have included cultural programmes across Assam and nationwide events through 2026.
Will PM Modi attend the Bhupen Hazarika centenary event?
Yes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is confirmed to be present at the grand closing ceremony on 29 November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as announced by the Assam Chief Minister's Office.
