This is a ritual worshiping the bar posts on either end, which earlier used to officially mark the starting of a new football season. Image Source: XtraTime[/caption]Kolkata: The Kolkata Maidan celebrates the traditional "Bar Puja" on the first day on the Bengali New Year. The historic festival was celebrated at all the football clubs of the Maidan in the presence of the supporters, club officials and members.
This is a ritual worshiping the bar posts on either end, which earlier used to officially mark the starting of a new football season. However, nowadays the current season usually extends beyond this date but the tradition of Bar Pujo continues in the Maidan. And it was indeed full of colours today.
Kingfisher East Bengal maintained the tradition and "officially" unveiled their captain for the next season during the Bar Puja as Arnab Mondal was declared as Captain and Didika Ralte the vice-captain. Mehtab Hossain too was involved at the time of the Bar Puja. Secretary Kalyan Majumdar was present as well when the Puja was going on. Later, former footballer Shyam Thapa went into the East Bengal dressing room to stimulate the players with official Debabrata Sarkar and Secretary Kalyan Majumder. Official Debabrata Sarkar later said, "Shyam Da spoke to the players and referred his playing days to motivate the team. I don't have any machine to motivate these players. Only tomorrow's game can tell us if they got motivated or not." Talking about the grievance of the fans, he said, "I expected such grief much earlier. In fact, I was wandering why the fans were not showing it despite such disappointing performances. This was the pain the supporters show in a fan based club. This was quite normal."
On the flip side, Mohun Bagan celebrated their Bar Puja with the presence of the players like Subhasish Bose, Pronay Halder, Sarthak Dolui and Shilton Paul. Mohun Bagan Secretary Anjan Mitra pinched their arch rivals East Bangal, as he said, "We have a team which belongs to the coach. We never interfere in the team management like the other clubs. There lies the mystery behind the success. Sanjoy Sen will be the coach in the next season as well." Brazilian Physical Trainer Garcia was seen present with the typical Bengali attires.
Bhawanipore Club was enriched by the presence of two Indian football greats Subrata Bhattacharya and Manoranjan Bhattacharya. But the motto for the new Bengali New Year remained the same, "A year full of good health and fortunes."
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