Team India Victory Parade in Mumbai Proves Cricket is the Biggest Religion in India

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Mumbai, July 5: Hailing from eastern Uttar Pradesh, I've experienced some of the largest religious gatherings in my life. During Navratri, thousands of pilgrims visit the renowned Vindhyavasini temple in my hometown, Mirzapur. Since childhood, we have stood in long queues for hours during the nine-day festival, which occurs twice a year, to have a Darshan of our deity.

I've also witnessed the massive gatherings at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, during the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The sea of humanity makes it as one of the biggest religious gatherings in the world. India Victory Parade 5 Highlights

Later, growing up I saw the vast number of devotees participating in the annual Ganesh Visarjan during the monsoon season. It's a spectacular sight as Mumbai and all of Maharashtra come to a standstill, with devotees immersing the idol of their beloved 'Bappa' during or after ten days of worship.

Although I've never been to Mumbai for Ganpati Utsav or to West Bengal for Durga Puja, the crowds that fill every corner of these cities during these festivals have always fascinated me.

However, on July 4 2024, I saw something similar in Mumbai when the Indian Cricket Team held a victory roadshow after returning triumphant from their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. Thousands of passionate cricket fans from Mumbai and neighboring areas flooded the city to catch a glimpse of their favourite players on an open bus. The celebration, fervour, and devotion of these fans were akin to devotees lining up for a Darshan.

The sea of humanity, gathered on the shores of the Arabian Sea, around Wankhede Stadium was so enormous it was nearly impossible to count. Nariman Point and Marine Drive were packed with people of all ages and genders, all eager to see Rohit Sharma & Co. pass by and etch the moment into their memories.

Children perched on car roofs chanted "India! India! India!" while adults echoed "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai," capturing memories with moist eyes and silent worship of their cricket idols.

The chaos resembled the aftermath of the Rath Yatra, with shoes and slippers scattered everywhere, reflecting the sheer volume of people. If counting heads was impossible, perhaps the municipal corporation could estimate a fraction of the crowd-counting footwear.

Witnessing this, I can confidently say that cricket is the biggest religion in India, capable of garnering such passionate and reverent support. Achievements like World Cup wins elevate cricketers to an immortal status.

The author is the Editor of myKhel