Wish lamps in Mahi hometown

Wish lamps in Mahi hometown

As Captain Cool and his men in blue pad up for the April 2 Wankhede blockbuster, fan frenzy is hotting up at his Cup-crazy hometown.

The happy flutter of 200 silken flags and 25 sky lanterns cheering Chak De Dhoni are setting the perfect pitch for the Saturday final between the Dream Team and Sri Lanka while cricket enthusiasts keep fingers crossed for a 1983 rerun.

If the lamps, to be released into the sky tomorrow evening, symbolise the victory designs of budding fashionistas of Ranchi Women’s College, the morale of Team India is being hoisted by Assocham’s Jharkhand chapter.

“We have lined up 200 flags in front of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s house at Birsa Munda Raj Marg in Harmu. He has done Jharkhand proud by ensuring India’s win over Pakistan in yesterday’s semi-final. The colourful paraphernalia is our way of saying thank you,” said R.K. Choudhary, the secretary-general of Assocham, Jharkhand.

Armed with drums and crackers, scores of cricket-lovers had trooped to Harmu last night after India’s scintillating 29-run win over Pakistan. Today, it was the turn of trumpet players who belted out patriotic numbers to wish the Team India skipper the very best for the final battle.

A contented spectator of the festivities, a neighbour told The Telegraph that Dhoni’s family members would not go to Mumbai to watch the final because that might distract him. “They want him to concentrate hundred per cent on the match,” he said, requesting anonymity.

Everyone seemed anxiously waiting for the big win. At Ranchi Women’s College, students laboriously sketched Dhoni on sky lanterns and etched messages like “Jharkhand ka hero barhayega Bharat ki shaan” to wish him luck.

“We want him to do what Kapil Dev did in 1983,” said Ratna Singh, a teacher of fashion designing.

“We are sanguine that our boy will win the Cup for India,” beamed Anshika Kumari, a student, giving finishing touches to her wish lamp.

“We will float the maps near Dhoni’s house on the eve of the big match,” another student added.

Last night, celebrations had reached a crescendo around midnight and continued till 2am. The thumping beat of drums had reverberated through Dhoni’s hometown while crackers lighted up the night sky. Bikers had zoomed with Tricolours in hand at Albert Ekka Chowk, Birsa Chowk, Sujata Chowk and Main Road among other places.