Thousands bid farewell to screen icon, Nipon

Guwahati: The last rites of the evergreen screen hero of Assam, Nipon Goswami, were performed following complete Vedic rituals at the Navagraha crematorium in the Silpukhuri area on Friday. The 80-year-old stalwart of the Assamese film industry was given state honours without gun salute.
Before being brought to the crematorium, his body was first taken to the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra from Jyoti Chitraban film studio, where it was kept since his demise at 10 am on Friday.
Goswami’s body was also taken to the directorate of cultural affairs at Ambari in a procession where the staff gave an official tribute to the legendary actor, and also to the headquarters of the All Assam Students’ Union at Uzanbazar, where the students’ body paid their last respects to the actor.
People paid him floral tributes during the procession from the Jyoti Chitraban to the crematorium.They stood on both sides of the road to bid a tearful farewell to the man who entertained them on the big screen and television as well as on stage for more than 50 years.
The Kamrup (Metro) district administration made all the arrangements for the funeral. “State honours without gun salute has been given to the great actor of Assamese film industry,” said DC Pallav Gopal Jha. As per rituals, Goswami’s son Siddhartha performed the last rites of his father. Goswami’s wife Rangita died in 2015.
Over four quintals of wood, salwood and sandalwood were used in the funeral pyre. These were supplied by Sailen Baishya following the direction of the district administration.