The new season at the Gymkhana officially got underway around 8.30 this morning with a blessing of the pitch. A local holy man performed the ritual that began with the placing of a garland of marigolds on the stumps, and was followed by the breaking of a coconut and scattering of its milk, incense sticks were then lit and pushed gently into the red soil, all this to a backcloth of softly uttered incantations. The ritual took around ten minutes and was followed by short speeches. Candy was handed out as the ceremony came to a close. As players, officials, and coaches drifted off, so the mali and his groundstaff moved in to clear the detritus; leaving just the wickets and garland to welcome the new season. The solemnity to proceedings was lightened shortly after as a posse of green parrots, no respecters of proceedings solemn or otherwise, arrived to offer vocal support. It was business as usual thereafter with Bhavana, Jigar and Dilip running a coaching session for the U14s.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 08:46:22 +0000