As Planet Earth soaks up the biggest sporting spectacle in the world, the FIFA World Cup, the excitement level is also reaching fever pitch in India. Ever since this game was introduced to India by the British in the late 1800s, the 'beautiful game' has always had a special place in the heart of people from Bengal, Goa and Kerala.
While the performance of Bengal teams have nosedived rapidly over the last five years in the domestic soccer season, the enthusiasm and love for the biggest football event of the world continues unabated in the City of Joy.
India's absence from this event has never affected the spirit of this soccer-mad city. The entire city has turned into a special football zone. Different parts of this mega-polis have 'adopted' a particular nation and cheer them on during this one-month football festival.
Brazil and Argentina are the two perennial favourite teams in Kolkata. In fact one would even find special prayers being offered at temples for an individual team's success. Huge groups of people would be assembling in front of a television-set to cheer their 'adopted' nation.
One can also find street walls painted with different country colours. Cheap team jersey replicas can be found in every nook and corner of the city, especially at the Maidan Market in central Kolkata. Needless to say, the price of a particular jersey depends on the team's progress in the tournament.
The victory celebrations have to be seen to be believed. Hordes of people normally come out on the streets to celebrate the result of a particular game by spraying each other with the team colour.
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