Cricket takes over life in Kolkata

Kolkata, Mar 12 (UNI) With hours left for the World Cup to explode into action,Kolkata has literally slipped into the Caribbean groove.

While streets suddenly wear a festive look. Belafonte seems to the favourite singer of the season. While a couple of clubs threw a party to coincide with the World Cup opening ceremony ''Jamaican Farewell' style, restaurants are also cashing in on the fever.

Caribbean curry, Jamaican sizzlers and beer seem to be the order of the day.

While Sourav's, the lounge-restaurant, owned by Sourav Ganguly, plans something special on all the days India plays, others are also cashing in on the sun-sand and of course green coconut-drinks.

The flag makers are also enjoying a high, though it's the tri-colour that is in demand, in comparison to World Cup soccer when flags of different countries are on demand. One flag merchant Rahim Miyan says, '' The demand is for Indian flags. But some flags of Pakistan and Australia are also selling along with England's.'' A portrait maker from Barasat has set up a brisk business near maidan.

He has made portraits of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan. And they are selling like hot cakes.

The Maidan market, in the heart of the city, is also not far behind. Reputed for selling sports goods, they are selling Indian jerseys and people are buying them for a handsome price.

''When we talk about Caribbeans, music cannot be left far behind. And that is exactly what is making news. A band called 'Jower' (high-tide) has churned a peppy number 'Team India' that talks of a dream that India is going on to win the World Cup and Rahul Dravid is making a victory lap.'' And people are just lapping it up. The USP of the song is of course it's Caribbean tune, blended with Indian folk.

The FM channels are competing against one another with a rave of programmes that talk about World Cup history and histrionic, sentinels and statistics with regular updates. The regional news channels have also organised a variety of programmes to cater to the taste of the cricket afficianadoes.

While the humdrum really is in the Caribbean, the excitement is bursting through the seams in this cricket mad city.

UNI