Mumbai's Victory Parade For Team India Highlights Cricket As Ultimate Faith

On July 4, 2024, Mumbai witnessed an extraordinary event when the Indian Cricket Team celebrated their T20 World Cup victory with a roadshow. Thousands of cricket fans from Mumbai and nearby areas swarmed the city to see their favourite players on an open bus. The enthusiasm and devotion of these fans were comparable to religious devotees seeking a Darshan.

Growing up in eastern Uttar Pradesh, I have seen some of the largest religious gatherings. During Navratri, thousands visit the famous Vindhyavasini temple in Mirzapur. As a child, I stood in long queues for hours during the nine-day festival, which happens twice a year, to see our deity.

The Mahakumbh Mela at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj is another massive gathering I've witnessed. The confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers attracts one of the world's largest religious crowds. The sea of humanity there is truly overwhelming.

In my youth, I also saw countless devotees participating in the annual Ganesh Visarjan during monsoon season. It's a spectacular sight as Mumbai and Maharashtra come to a halt while devotees immerse the idol of their beloved 'Bappa' after ten days of worship.

Although I've never attended Ganpati Utsav in Mumbai or Durga Puja in West Bengal, the crowds that fill these cities during these festivals have always intrigued me. However, witnessing the cricket team's victory parade in Mumbai was akin to those grand celebrations.

The crowd gathered around Wankhede Stadium and along Marine Drive was so vast it was nearly impossible to count. Nariman Point was packed with people eager to see Rohit Sharma & Co., capturing memories with moist eyes and silent reverence for their cricket idols.

Unmatched Fervour for Cricket

Children perched on car roofs chanted "India! India! India!" while adults echoed "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai." The chaos resembled the aftermath of Rath Yatra, with shoes and slippers scattered everywhere, reflecting the sheer volume of people present.

If counting heads was impossible, perhaps estimating from scattered footwear could give an idea of the crowd size. This event made it clear that cricket is indeed India's biggest religion, capable of drawing such passionate support.

The author is the Editor of myKhel