PM Modi to headline Bhupen Hazarika centenary finale at Bharat Mandapam on Nov 29
Synopsis
PM Modi will personally confer the Bhupen Hazarika National Award on Usha Mangeshkar at Bharat Mandapam on 29 November — the grand finale of a year-long centenary tribute to Sudhakantha. With 1,000 Assamese artistes, 1,000 college students, and performers like Shreya Ghoshal and Shankar Mahadevan, the event is set to be one of the largest cultural convergences in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi will attend as Chief Guest at the Bhupen Hazarika birth centenary closing ceremony on 29 November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi .
Modi will confer the Bhupen Hazarika National Award on veteran singer Usha Mangeshkar .
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launched an online registration portal on 6 November for public attendance.
Around 5,000 attendees are expected, including artistes, students, diplomats, Governors, and Chief Ministers.
A total of 1,000 artistes from Assam and 1,000 college students will attend, with a special train arranged for travel to Delhi.
Top performers include Shreya Ghoshal , Shankar Mahadevan , Kavita Krishnamurti , Papon , Kaushiki Chakraborty , and leading Assamese singers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the grand closing ceremony of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika's birth centenary celebrations as Chief Guest on 29 November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. At the event, Modi will confer the Bhupen Hazarika National Award on veteran singer Usha Mangeshkar, honouring her decades-long contribution to Indian music.
Registration and Scale of the Event
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, 6 November launched an online registration portal allowing members of the public to apply for attendance at the ceremony. Speaking to the media at Dispur, Sarma described the closing event as a fitting culmination of a year-long celebration honouring one of India's most influential cultural voices. The programme, scheduled from 6 pm to 8 pm IST, is expected to draw an overall audience of around 5,000, including artistes, college students, diplomats, Governors, Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, and distinguished guests associated with Hazarika's legacy.
Star-Studded Lineup of Performers
The ceremony will bring together some of India's most celebrated musicians in a tribute to the legendary singer-composer popularly known as Sudhakantha. National performers confirmed for the event include Shreya Ghoshal, Shankar Mahadevan, Kavita Krishnamurti, L. Subramaniam, Kaushiki Chakraborty, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Rahul Deshpande, and Sriramchandra. Prominent Assamese artistes — including Kalpana Patowary, Angaraag Mahanta (popularly known as Papon), Tarali Sarma, Zublee Baruah, Nahid Afrin, and Dawor Hazarika, among others — will also perform.
1,000 Artistes from Assam to Reprise Inaugural Performance
A major attraction will be the participation of 1,000 artistes from Assam who had earlier performed at the inaugural ceremony of the centenary celebrations. They will join the broader ensemble in presenting Hazarika's iconic compositions, including 'Manuhe Manuhor Babe' and 'We Are in the Same Boat, Brother'. An additional 1,000 college students from Assam associated with music and cultural activities will attend, with a special train arranged for their travel to the national capital.
Legacy of Bhupen Hazarika
Born on 8 September 1926, Bhupen Hazarika was awarded the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — posthumously in 2019. Revered as the voice of the Brahmaputra, his work bridged Assamese folk traditions with pan-Indian themes of humanism and social harmony. The November 29 ceremony marks the culmination of a year-long national commemoration of his birth centenary, underscoring the enduring resonance of his cultural legacy across India's diverse linguistic landscape.
Point of View
But the guest list of 5,000, the special train, and the high-profile performer lineup also reflect how cultural statecraft has become a preferred soft-power instrument for the current dispensation. The Bhupen Hazarika National Award itself is a relatively new honour; directing it toward Usha Mangeshkar — a figure whose legacy is pan-Indian rather than regionally specific — raises questions about whether the award's framing will evolve to systematically recognise artists rooted in Northeastern traditions.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bhupen Hazarika birth centenary closing ceremony?
It is the grand finale of a year-long national celebration marking the 100th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika, scheduled for 29 November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. PM Narendra Modi will attend as Chief Guest and confer the Bhupen Hazarika National Award at the event.
Who is receiving the Bhupen Hazarika National Award?
Veteran singer Usha Mangeshkar will receive the Bhupen Hazarika National Award, to be conferred by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the closing ceremony on 29 November 2026.
How can the public attend the Bhupen Hazarika centenary closing ceremony?
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched an online registration portal on 6 November to allow members of the public to register for attendance. The event at Bharat Mandapam has an overall audience capacity of around 5,000.
Which artists will perform at the Bhupen Hazarika centenary finale?
Performers include Shreya Ghoshal, Shankar Mahadevan, Kavita Krishnamurti, L. Subramaniam, Kaushiki Chakraborty, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Rahul Deshpande, Sriramchandra, and Papon (Angaraag Mahanta), alongside numerous prominent Assamese singers. A group of 1,000 artistes from Assam who performed at the inaugural ceremony will also reprise their role.
Who was Bhupen Hazarika and why is his centenary being celebrated nationally?
Bhupen Hazarika was a legendary Assamese singer, composer, and filmmaker awarded the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — posthumously in 2019. Known as Sudhakantha, his music bridged Assamese folk traditions with themes of humanism and social harmony, making him one of India's most influential cultural voices across linguistic and regional boundaries.
