East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan, Durand Cup 2023: Kolkata divided ahead of Chingri-Ilish battle

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Swapno (Dream) and Sotyi (Reality) are two terms which has often been a friend and enemy or vice-versa for East Bengal and Mohun Bagan supporters. These two famous clubs of Kolkata ooze football heritage and are quite comfortably the biggest clubs in India.

Mohun Bagan's long agony of winning atrophy ended with an I-League victory, and despite their ISL success, the infight among supporters regarding ATK has turmoiled them in the past. But last season, the removal of ATK and the arrival of Mohun Bagan Super Giant has somehow turned their dream into a reality both on and off the field.

East Bengal, on the other hand, have the dream of winning the ISL and other trophies, but have fallen short in recent years.

But this season, both these clubs are on the brink of making a return to the grandest stage of Indian football's ever-swinging throne, together.

East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan Durand Cup Final 2023

East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant lock horns in the Grand Finale of the Durand Cup 2023 Final on Sunday (September 3) at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

It will be an epic encounter as the two age-old clubs of Kolkata battle it out for their supremacy in one of the oldest football tournaments of India.

And ahead of this epic clash, the city of Kolkata can be divided with the edge of a knife. The city and the entire Bengal is currently divided into Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. In the battle of Chingri (Prawn) and Ilish (a popular fish), this promises to be a mouthwatering clash between the two sides.

Chingri has traditionally been the symbolic representative of Mohun Bagan, while Ilish is associated with East Bengal for its Padma river and separation etymology.

The emotion of Bengal and Bengalis is always a massive driving factor, and you can literally fathom it for the last couple of days. The East Bengal fans just got the better of their arch-rivals after a long time in the group stages of the Durand Cup, and Mohun Bagan will be hoping for redemption, as they aim to topple East Bengal in the grand finale.

The Mohun Bagan supporters are confident after their magnificent win over FC Goa in the semifinal, while East Bengal will aim to continue their recent upsurge. The Red and Gold Brigade secured an epic comeback victory over Northeast United in the semifinal and have looked decent in this tournament.

We talked with both sets of supporters and they all are beaming with confidence ahead of the championship clash.

"Amra dekhiye dibo aaj order East Bengal ki korte pare (We will show them today what East Bengal can do on the field)," a buoyant East Bengal supporter told MyKhel.

As soon as the East Bengal supporter said that, a Mohun Bagan supporter was ready with a reply and said, "Tora kichhu korte paarbina, jeetbo amrai (You won't be doing anything, only we will win)."

This is nothing but normal across Bengal today, as Bengalis are divided into distinguished poles today. While coming to the stadium, we witnessed the Red-Gold and Green-Maroon colours on the faces of supporters, the trips with buses from various parts across Kolkata and its surroundings had ongoing verbal spats between the two crops of supporters.

But beyond that, it is a massive moment for Bengal Football. After years, the two giants of Kolkata are at the grandest stage of an Indian competition, and it must be rejoiced by both sets of fans. May the best team win!