North East India Festival (NEIF) chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta has clarified that singer Zubeen Garg visited Singapore mainly to relax, and not solely to take part in the scheduled cultural event. The festival, which was set to open on Friday, was cancelled after Garg tragically drowned while swimming in the sea without a life jacket.

Mahanta said Garg had asked organisers to arrange his hotel stay but had also made independent plans with members of the Assam Association in Singapore. “He came mainly to unwind. His intention was not to deliver a big performance but to meet people, share a few songs, and enjoy his time here,” Mahanta said.

The singer travelled with a small group, including his cousin Sandeepan Garg, manager Siddhartha Sharma, and musician Shekhar Jyoti Goswami. Mahanta stressed that neither the festival team nor Garg had planned a full-fledged concert.

Countering reports and circulating videos, Mahanta confirmed that Garg did not perform in Singapore before the incident and that organisers were unaware of his yacht trip with members of the Assam Association, during which the accident occurred.

Mahanta also rejected claims that NEIF is a commercial venture, stating that its aim is to promote cultural, trade, and tourism connections between Northeast India and Southeast Asia under India’s Act East policy. The Singapore edition was planned to coincide with the 60th anniversary of India–Singapore diplomatic ties and the India–ASEAN Year of Tourism.