Odisha village captures spirit of Cricket frenzy nation

Nuapada: In a cricket frenzied nation, there is a village in Odisha where the game is no less than a festival. It is almost three years that Singjhar village in Nuadapada district gets agog with activity whenever the local committee organises the cricket tournament with teams participating from various states here.

Though there is no Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Virat Kohli playing, but the villagers cheer local players whenever they hit sixes or fours in the tournament.

Such is the excitement among spectators that they do not mind watching the matches even from tree branches or any place they can find.

The village which lacks basic road connectivity comes alive during the cricket tournament that has now turned into a mega event.

From kiosks selling mouth watering dishes to other amusement stalls, one gets a feel of any Indian carnival. The entire village throng to the venue to witness the matches.

Nearly 16 teams including teams from Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh participate in the cricket tournament that is organised for a period of 15 days every year.

"Big teams from Odisha, Chhattisgarh and other parts are participating in the event. It is not just a tournament, rather it has turned into a ‘mahotsav’ for the people of this region," said Lalit Kumar Sunari, a member of the organising committee.