Mohali/New Delhi/Mumbai, Mar 31 : From Mohali to Mumbai -- frenzied celebrations erupted across the country on Wednesday night as Team India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan to enter the cricket World Cup final, with people bursting firecrackers, distributing sweets and dancing in the streets waving the tricolour.
As soon as Misbah-ul-Haq's shot landed in the safe hands of Virat Kohli at long-on to signal the end of Pakistan innings, ecstatic fans, who had been glued to TV sets since afternoon, spilled into the roads, greeting each other, honking cars and dancing to the beats of drums, choking key street intersections and main thoroughfares.
A festive atmosphere prevailed in Mumbai, which will host the final clash with Sri Lanka on Saturday, as also other parts of the country. Cricket fans piled on jeeps and other vehicles, waving the national flag and shouted slogans cheering India and favourite players.
It was Diwali once again in Ranchi, the hometown of Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, as hundreds of fans assembled in front of his house, set off firecrackers and distributed streets.
In Delhi, people turned up in large numbers at the iconic India Gate for impromptu celebrations, causing massive traffic jam.
Euphoric scenes were also seen at Behala locality in south Kolkata, where former India skipper Sourav Ganguly resides. Those watching the match on the streets on giant
screens, hugged each other and danced to the tune of 'Chakde! India' and other Bollywood hit numbers.
At the start of the match in the afternoon, the streets wore a deserted look, for a change on a working day.
The roads in Chandigarh and other cities were crowded with people driving cars and riding motorcycles celebrating the win.
The night sky was lit up with fireworks as Pakistan lost their ninth wicket in Umar Gul who was held leg before by pacer Ashish Nehra. Similar joyous scenes were witness in the national capital and other cities of this cricket-crazy country.
The entire stadium in Mohali broke into a thunderous applause, with Congress President Sonia and her son Rahul cheering the team, as the last Pakistani wicket fell.
Congratulatory messages poured in from chief ministers of various states for the victorious team.
Nothing could stop the fans, even in villages where there was no electricity, from watching the high-adrenalin clash. Ten villages comprising the primitive Paharia tribal community in Jharkhand's Pakur district's Litipara watched the match on a portable TV with the help of car batteries.
"Electricity has not yet reached to our villages situated at the top of hills. We arranged a portable TV run by batteries to help the villagers share the thrill along with other citizens of the country," Pakur Zila Parishad member Shiv Charan Malto said.
Holding aloft the national flag, the fans came out on streets not only in Hyderabad but other major cities like Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
Attendance in offices was thin and some offices announced a half-day for their staff to enable them to watch the match.
In Dehradun, hundreds of people gathered at Ghantaghar to celebrate the victory. "I have not seen such celebrations in my entire life," said Vinod Pundir, who had turned up along with his two children.
Several hotels, restaurants and clubs made special arrangements for people to watch the crucial encounter. Police personnel were deployed at many sensitive places for the match, especially near the residences of the players.
In Jaipur, the deserted markets soon turned into a site for boisterous celebrations which continued late into the night.
Ranchi: The night sky was illuminated today with fire crackers as cricket fans in M S Dhoni's hometown here danced and frantically honked vehicles to celebrate India's victory over Pakistan in the World Cup semi-finals.
Fans burst crackers at Harmu where Dhoni's residence is situated and in other localities as cricket lovers danced to the tune of drums and distributed sweets.
"Our obeisance at the Deori temple paid results. We will continue to offer prayers at the temple for Team India's good performance," said Rana Dev, a cricket fan.
Deprived of electricity, ten villages comprising that of the primitive Paharia tribal community in Pakur district's Litipara watched the match on a portable TV with the help of car batteries.
"Electricity has not yet reached our villages situated at the top of hills. We arranged a portable TV run by batteries to help the villagers share the thrill along with other citizens of the country," Pakur Zilla Parishad member Shiv Charan Malto told PTI.
A number of cricket fans in rural areas went to their friends' places to watch the thriller without any powercuts.
Supporters of the Indian team also celebrated the victory in industrial towns of Dhanbad, Bokaro, Jamshedpur and other places in Jharkhand.
Kolkata : The moment Misbah-ul-Haq's shot found Virat Kohli at long-on to signal the end of Pakistan innings, people here took to streets to celebrate India's victory over the arch-rivals in the semi-final of the World Cup in Mohali today.
As the co-hosts entered the final with a 29-run win, the Kolkatans, armed with crackers, hit the streets, while many carried out processions shouting India slogans.
There were widespread celebrations in all corners of the city and euphoric scenes were also seen at Behala, where former India skipper Sourav Ganguly resides.
Ganguly is busy with his commentary committments, but his locality celebrated the victory with crackers.
Fireworks started soon after Munaf Patel bowled dangerman Abdul Razzaq with a beautiful leg-cutter, which left Pakistan tottering at 152 for six chasing India's 261.
Those watching the match on the streets on giant screens, danced to the tune of popular song ‘Chakde! India'.
Before the start of the match, the city wore a deserted look and all the busy roads were, for a change, empty. The only time some traffic could be seen was during the innings break. PTI
