Revised
Varanasi: It was not just a game of cricket, but ‘dand-kanduk kridyayam’ that drew the attention of many. A unique match in traditional India attire — dhoti-kurta with tripund on the foreheads —was played on the ground of Sampurnanad Sanskrit University (SSU) on Thursday with Vedic students taking up ‘dand’ (bat) and ‘kanduk’ (ball) to commemorate the 77th Foundation Day of Shashtrarth Mahavidyalaya, Varanasi.
All the players and ‘nirnakahah’ (umpires) were in dhoti and kurta. The running commentary was also in Sanskrit catching the attention of the people passing through the area. “It is surprising to see the Sanskrit version of the cricket,” said one Santosh Kumar, who approached the ground after hearing the commentary in Sanskrit.
The spectators got a flavour of this novel form of cricket, when dhoti kurta-clad ‘batuks’ (Vedic students) arrived at the cricket pitch.
The Sanskrit version of cricket is an annual feature in the city to make the people aware that Sanskrit is not merely literary but has much more to it. “Sanskrit, the Devavani, has everything in its repertoire. You can see the Sanskrit students playing modern cricket in their own style, and the commentator is also making it in Sanskrit,” said Shashtrarth Mahavidyalaya principal Dr Ganesh Dutta Tripathi, adding that a message should go in the society in favour of Sanskrit.
“Six teams from different Sanskrit colleges are taking part in this annual celebration of the Foundation Day,” said a teacher, Acharya Pawan Kumar Shastri. “Sanskrit students are generally viewed as the priests in making, but they can also show their talent in other spheres like cricket if given an opportunity,” he said adding that the main objective of the event is to make people aware about the vastness and richness of Sanskrit.
All necessary precautions have been taken during the event as per the Covid-19 protocol, said Dr Tripathi adding that awareness regarding the protective measures against coronavirus is also being spread.