New Delhi:
It's India shining at the Commonwealth Games and the box office is raking in the glory.
As the country goes from strength to strength, interest in the Games is soaring. Gone are the days when empty stands had the organizers worried. In the last three days alone, more than three lakh tickets have been sold for the Games.
People from all walks of life are swarming the ticket stands. All want to do their bit for the country.
Meet Manoj and Ramesh, both are farmers from Bhiwani who have been camping in the capital for the past five days, hoping to get tickets to watch wrestler Sushil Kumar. But sadly, most tickets in the affordable range were sold out.
But not losing heart, they aimed at buying the tickets of a slightly higher range. In order to raise Rs 5000 for the tickets, they found an idea. The duo is painting the tricolour on the faces of the spectators and making money to watch their favourite wrestler.
"Till now I have spent 1000 rupees, I may earn something today...we have come from Bhiwani especially to watch Sushil Kumar's kushti, we will try and buy the ticket somehow, " said an enthusiastic Manoj Kumar
So, for Rs 20, the two offer spectators the chance to sport the tricolour.
"We feel that painting the tricolour will also encourage the players," added Ramesh.
Well, where there is a will there is a way. And this has proved right not just for Ramesh and Manoj but also for the Organising Committee.
Despite suffering enough criticism, the Games fever has now caught on. Though, tickets for the more popular sports are almost sold out, it has not prevented people from still trying to get an entry and cheer for their teams.
"The sale of tickets has crossed nine lakh, we have generated 32 crores from ticketing. We had good crowd in gymnastics, hockey and swimming," said Lalit Bhanot, Secretary General of the CWG Organising Committee.
India's gold rush too has pushed up the ticket sales. In order to keep the stands buzzing with spectators, the Organising Committee has also started giving out complementary tickets to school children and NGOs for those venues with little attendance.
"If we don't go who else will go and cheer for them? Bharat Mein hain Dum... Vande Mataram," said Shweta Chaturvedi a spectator.