Cricket fever conquers 'Ardh Kumbh returnees' in Varanasi

Varanasi, Jan 31 (UNI) Leaving mystical charm of this ancient city behind, pilgrims returning from Ardh Kumbh here savoured Team India's one-day series triumph over West Indies at Vadodara today.

It was not the imposing ghats dotting the Ganga river, the small shops selling religious keepsakes or even the resonance of bells in temples here, which caught the attention of pilgrims on their way back from Ardh Kumbh.

Rather it was a small TV beaming live the fourth and final ODI between India and West Indies at Vadodara that caught the fancy of one and all.

Spanning from Baba Devnath Giri of the Joona Akhara to Tanuja from an Ashram of Faridabad to pilgrims from south and western India, everyone hurried to ensure vantage points at the 'Ardh Kumbh Tirth Yatri Shivir' in the Chitaranjan Park to witness master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's return to form.

''My prayers during a dip in the Triveni Sangam at Allahabad and Ganga river here have been answered, as master blaster Sachin Tendulkar has found the midas touch once again with a brilliant century,'' said Shivraj, a young pilgrim from Mumbai.

Endorsing his views was Digambar Muktesh Giri from the Awahan Akhara, who left his makeshift habitat at the neighbouring Rajendra Prasad Ghat early to watch the match. ''When Tendulkar's bat explodes, the Men in Blue are bound to excel,'' he said.

While the pilgrims at the camp watched the match live on TV, those of who missed that chance remained content with loud-speakers blaring the running commentary.

As the Windies succumbed to a 160-run defeat in the crucial tie, one of the saffron clad Babas reached out to the mike to wish 'Bharat ki shaandar jeet par aap sabhi ko lukkh lukkh badhaiyaan.' UNI