The night India bled Blue !!!

2nd April 2011 - The day will be etched in memories of at least a billion people for rest of their lifetimes. Team India played like champions and ultimately emerged as one, breaking the host-country never-won jinx in the process.

While the Men in Blue did not shy away from showing their emotions on the ground, the fans went berserk on the streets. I'm really at loss of words to describe the frenzy that followed the victory. To say that the atmosphere was merely ecstatic would be gross injustice to the spirit exhibited by the people of India. There was jubilation all around, a sense of triumph had overwhelmed people. The atmosphere was electric - the charge being passed from one to another and refusing to die down - the celebrations extending upto wee hours the next day. The crowds were driven by sheer madness !!! And I feel lucky to be a witness to all that.

As soon as Dhoni had hit the final six, the first thing one could hear was screams - loud, sharp pitched screams from all over the neighborhood. I had never shouted like that in my lifetime and am sure so would have most of the people. Soon crackers started bursting, giving the illusion of another Diwali. Every main road/square was inundated with people- hundreds / thousands of them. Huge traffic jams followed as people took to streets on their bikes, cars, jeeps, tractors to celebrate - wrapping tri-color on their chests. And when I say cars - it was not just small cars(synonymous with middle income groups), but Audis, BMWs, Mercs, SUVs and what not. Hardly any section of society that was left out. There were rich and poor, youth,children and aged (I saw an 65-70 year old uncle ji dancing at a street corner), the abled and the disabled (I saw a physically handicapped person waving India's flag), the drunkards(who were behaving very gracefully) and the teetotalers, the clothed and the naked. People were literally stopping every passer-by and hugging them, congratulating them. I myself hi-five'd with innumerable people while on the bike itself. My friend was travelling to his home town that very evening (What a loser !). He said that the moment the bus crossed any village / city, people of that village/city would stop the bus, greet and congratulate everyone and then let it go. I was amazed ! The cries of 'Jai Ho' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' - which were till now only considered a prerogative of the armed forces- reverberated the atmosphere.

I always thought that cricket as a religion in India was always over-rated. Not anymore (Just like I thought Dhoni to be a pathetic batsman !) - now that I have witnessed it all with my eyes! If there is one passion that Indians hold dear to their hearts- its cricket; If there's one sport that is madly followed -its cricket (how legitimate that is,is a matter of another debate another day !); If there's one thing that cuts across all religions and seeps through each strata of the society - its cricket; if there's one thing that arouses patriotism (though momentary bursts !) - its cricket; If there's one event that can cause voluntary closure of shops and empty streets, even on weekends - its cricket. And If there is one great unifier for the diversity of India -its cricket. (And if there's one thing that can make Sonia Gandhi loose her poise and grace (saw her exulting in joy with raised arms after India's victory over Pak), even though for few minutes, its cricket !)

P.S: I got an SMS that day which said " Facebook clogged, roads in India filled, phone lines jammed, liquor shops out of stock. Chill guys. Its not the Armageddon. India just won the World Cup". I can't help pitying the originator for saying that "India just won the World Cup". Perhaps this post would help him/her understand better what it means to Indians when India just wins the World Cup.