With commentary in Sanskrit and players dressed in traditional dhoti kurta, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh hosted a unique cricket match on Tuesday. The 10-over tournament saw students from various Sanskrit-medium schools showcasing their cricketing talent. The players, with tripund (three lines of ''shivling'') on their foreheads played barefoot and were a treat to watch for the audience that had gathered to cheer. The umpires, commentators too wore traditional Indian attire.
The tournament was organised by Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vidyalaya on its 75th founding year.
Ganesh Dutt Shastri, a teacher of a Sanskrit-medium school in the city, said that the tournament is being held to motivate the students to take up sports.
"All Sanskrit schools across Varanasi are participating in the tournament. There are five teams in contest and all the students are wearing dhoti and kurta. The Sanskrit commentary is being delivered by Shresht Narayan Mishra and Dr Vikas Dixit," Mr Shastri told ANI.
The Sanskrit Cricket League saw participation from Sanskrit scholars in Varanasi.
Echoing similar sentiments, Acharya Pawan Kumar Shastri of Shastrath Mahavidyalaya explained that the tournament is unique in its approach.
"It is a proud moment for us that this tournament is known as Sanskrit Cricket League. While on other days, the boys study Vedas and have pens in their hands, today they have a bat and ball in their hands," he told ANI, adding that a cricket tournament like this is a first in the country.
(With Inputs From ANI)
1 Dead, Several Injured After Two Houses Collapse In Varanasi What Varanasi Small Traders Expect From Union Budget 2024 2 UP Men Imitate Scene From 'Mirzapur' For A Reel, Arrested Video: Woman Tries To Jump Off Mumbai's Atal Setu, Saved By Driver, Cops Doctors Begin 24-Hour Nationwide Strike Over Kolkata Rape-Murder: 10 Points Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources Sunita Williams Stuck In Space: What 6 Months Can Do To Perception Of Time AIIMS Raipur Recruitment 2024: Applications Begin For 82 Positions Joe Biden Exit To Kamala Harris Endorsement: Wildest Month Ahead Of US Polls Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.