Be it celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan or IT professionals or common citizens - people all over the country hit the streets Saturday night to celebrate India's World Cup victory, with the festivities continuing into the early hours of Sunday.
People gathered at clubs, restaurants and pubs to watch the match but once it was over, they came out onto the streets to party. Youngsters were seen holding national flags and singing and dancing away to "Vande Mataram", "Chak De! India" and "Sabse aage honge Hindustani".
The sound of crackers was so defeaning that it seemed to be an early Diwali.
"We went to India Gate and celebrated with all our friends. All over, people were screaming and shouting and dancing to celebrate the historic win. We simply loved the enthusiasm. We also saw bikers performing stunts at India Gate," said Mohit Verma, who works with a software firm.
Every stranger became a friend and class distinctions blurred as just about everyone came out onto the streets, leading to huge traffic snarls.
"The traffic was such that some people who wished to go to India Gate had to park their cars at Pandara Road (about 1 km away) and then walk to India Gate. We had to do the same," Radhika Sharma, a media professional told IANS.
"Even Prithviraj Road (in the heart of the capital), which is usually quiet and has less traffic, was jampacked. There were two cars moving parallel to each other and people in both the cars were waving the national flag and cheering all along," she added.
People had their faces painted in the colours of the national flag and cruised along on their bikes and in their cars while screaming and shouting.
It is often said that cricket is a boys game but the girls were not far behind. One could see them celebrating the win with full enthusiam. There were couples riding on bikes, with girls riding pillion. Every now and then, the girls would stand up on the movings bike and cheer for India.
"We went to Centre Stage Mall (in Noida) and people went crazy there. They were blowing trumpets and most of them were wearing India T-shirts and had tattoos. It was so much fun," said Sucheta Bhatt, an HR professional.
Every stranger became a friend when Indian skipper Mahinder Singh Dhoni ended the match by hitting a spectacular six.
"We hit the streets immediately after the win. We were at a pub and the whole crowd came out on the streets. I knew everyone will be on the roads once India wins because I saw that during the India-Pakistan match," Shashi Verma, freelance writer based in Mumbai, said.
"I wanted to be part of the revelry. It was crazy on the streets. So many people were out. Dancing to the beat of dhols. I've never witnessed anything like this before," Verma added.
Kinshuk Pal, who works with a production house in Mumbai, said: "I was watching the match at my cousin's place. We were eight of us and when Dhoni hit that six, all of were ecstatic and we ran out on the streets to join others. We went around the roads for almost two hours, screaming loudly with people we don't even know. It was a great feeling. It was like a festival."
In Chandigarh and Mysore, too, the people couldn't stop themselves from coming onto the streets to cheer for the Men in Blue.
"Everyone was dancing on the roads. There were firecrackers. It was like we were celebrating Diwali and kids especially were very excited. They were shouting slogans like 'Humse jo takrayega choor choor ho jayega'," said Shivani Ganju, a media professional from Chandigarh.
Sidharth Shandilya, an IT professional in Mysore, said: "All my colleagues hit the road as soon as Dhoni hit the sixer. They didn't know who they were hugging, congratulating or dancing with, but people partied till 4 a.m. It seemed whole country was celebrating India's win. It was a sight to watch."
On Saturday night Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, too, joined the jubilant crowds with son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai on Mumbai streets.
Fashion buyer Alka Nishar of AZA store was delighted with way Indian team dedicated the victory to Sachin Tendulkar.
"Only in India will you see the entire team dedicate their victory to one player. Only in India will you see the players lift their (South African) Coach and honour him for their victory! Only in India will you see a Pathan lift Tendulkar to honour him and respect his dedication to cricket. No race, creed, colour, caste will ever separate our unity and integrity. We are Indian and we are one!! Jai Hindi! World Champions...," said Nishar.
People gathered at clubs, restaurants and pubs to watch the match but once it was over, they came out onto the streets to party. Youngsters were seen holding national flags and singing and dancing away to "Vande Mataram", "Chak De! India" and "Sabse aage honge Hindustani".
The sound of crackers was so defeaning that it seemed to be an early Diwali.
"We went to India Gate and celebrated with all our friends. All over, people were screaming and shouting and dancing to celebrate the historic win. We simply loved the enthusiasm. We also saw bikers performing stunts at India Gate," said Mohit Verma, who works with a software firm.
Every stranger became a friend and class distinctions blurred as just about everyone came out onto the streets, leading to huge traffic snarls.
"The traffic was such that some people who wished to go to India Gate had to park their cars at Pandara Road (about 1 km away) and then walk to India Gate. We had to do the same," Radhika Sharma, a media professional told IANS.
"Even Prithviraj Road (in the heart of the capital), which is usually quiet and has less traffic, was jampacked. There were two cars moving parallel to each other and people in both the cars were waving the national flag and cheering all along," she added.
People had their faces painted in the colours of the national flag and cruised along on their bikes and in their cars while screaming and shouting.
It is often said that cricket is a boys game but the girls were not far behind. One could see them celebrating the win with full enthusiam. There were couples riding on bikes, with girls riding pillion. Every now and then, the girls would stand up on the movings bike and cheer for India.
"We went to Centre Stage Mall (in Noida) and people went crazy there. They were blowing trumpets and most of them were wearing India T-shirts and had tattoos. It was so much fun," said Sucheta Bhatt, an HR professional.
Every stranger became a friend when Indian skipper Mahinder Singh Dhoni ended the match by hitting a spectacular six.
"We hit the streets immediately after the win. We were at a pub and the whole crowd came out on the streets. I knew everyone will be on the roads once India wins because I saw that during the India-Pakistan match," Shashi Verma, freelance writer based in Mumbai, said.
"I wanted to be part of the revelry. It was crazy on the streets. So many people were out. Dancing to the beat of dhols. I've never witnessed anything like this before," Verma added.
Kinshuk Pal, who works with a production house in Mumbai, said: "I was watching the match at my cousin's place. We were eight of us and when Dhoni hit that six, all of were ecstatic and we ran out on the streets to join others. We went around the roads for almost two hours, screaming loudly with people we don't even know. It was a great feeling. It was like a festival."
In Chandigarh and Mysore, too, the people couldn't stop themselves from coming onto the streets to cheer for the Men in Blue.
"Everyone was dancing on the roads. There were firecrackers. It was like we were celebrating Diwali and kids especially were very excited. They were shouting slogans like 'Humse jo takrayega choor choor ho jayega'," said Shivani Ganju, a media professional from Chandigarh.
Sidharth Shandilya, an IT professional in Mysore, said: "All my colleagues hit the road as soon as Dhoni hit the sixer. They didn't know who they were hugging, congratulating or dancing with, but people partied till 4 a.m. It seemed whole country was celebrating India's win. It was a sight to watch."
On Saturday night Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, too, joined the jubilant crowds with son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai on Mumbai streets.
Fashion buyer Alka Nishar of AZA store was delighted with way Indian team dedicated the victory to Sachin Tendulkar.
"Only in India will you see the entire team dedicate their victory to one player. Only in India will you see the players lift their (South African) Coach and honour him for their victory! Only in India will you see a Pathan lift Tendulkar to honour him and respect his dedication to cricket. No race, creed, colour, caste will ever separate our unity and integrity. We are Indian and we are one!! Jai Hindi! World Champions...," said Nishar.
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