A few Vedic pundits in Bhopal, donning Dhoti Kurta and sporting religious marks on their foreheads can be seen playing cricket in Bhopal. The tournament is aimed at promoting Sanskrit, India’s oldest language. The winners of this competition, organized to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, will be rewarded with a visit to Ayodhya. Notably, the city will observe the consecration of the Ram Temple is scheduled to take place on January 22.
In what is a four-day tournament, which is played at Ankur ground in the Madhya Pradesh capital and started on Friday, January 5, includes conversations between players and umpires in fluent Sanskrit. Even the commentators narrated the on-field events, such as hits, misses, and catches, in the ancient language. The organizer of the tournament was born on January 12, runs Vedic schools and seminaries in some parts of the country.
According to Maharishi Maitri Match Committee member Ankur Pandey, the winners will be sent to Ayodhya after January 22. They will also receive a prize of Rs 21,000, while the runners-up will get Rs 11,000, he said. Pandey said a dozen teams, including four from Bhopal, are participating in the fourth edition of the cricket tournament. Another organizer said the event aims to promote Sanskrit and sportsmanship among the Vedic family. Prizes apart, players are being honored with Vedic books and a 100-year ‘panchang’ (almanac), he added.
#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh: In a unique cricket tournament (Maharishi Maitri Match Tournament) organized by Sanskriti Bachao Manch in Bhopal, the players can be seen playing in ‘dhoti’ and ‘kurta’ while commentary is being done in the Sanskrit language. A total of 12 teams are… pic.twitter.com/VU7Y7y2t1Q
— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2024
