For now, cricket edges out football in ‘Little Tibet’

DHARAMSALA - Tibetans here are crazy about football. But with no less than spiritual leader Dalai Lama expected at an India Premier League (IPL) match here next week, cricket looms large on their minds.

Dharamsala - also known as ‘Little Tibet’ - is eagerly waiting for the two matches to be played at the newly built Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium. While one takes place Friday, the other will be held Sunday.

“Though playing ball (soccer) gives us a sense of nationhood, this time we are eagerly waiting for IPL for two reasons - first, the matches are being played in our hometown and second, our spiritual guru the Dalai Lama is witnessing one of them,” Dorji Lobsang, a shopkeeper, told IANS.

Dorji and his friends plan to watch the match between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab April 18 where the Dalai Lama would be the chief guest.

Tenzin Tsering, a Class 8 student at Tibetan Children Village School, said: “Witnessing a match in one of the highest cricket grounds in the world at 4,000 feet will be a unique experience for us. We didn’t want to miss the opportunity and got our tickets booked well in advance.”

He said most students in his school would be going to see the matches.

Tenzin Dolker, another student, while referring to the unifying power of sports, said: “We have little understanding about the technical aspects of the game (cricket), but in both the games (soccer and cricket) esprit de corps is important. So we are excited about cricket too.”

The idea of watching top class cricket and also a chance to get the Dalai Lama’s blessings is pulling many Tibetans from outside to Dharamsala.

“I have come from Mussoorie for the match. This is, of course, an occasion to get the blessings of our spiritual guru,” Neema Dhundup, who runs a business in Mussoorie, told IANS.

“Since India is our second home, it is natural that we developed a love for cricket like Indians who are passionate to the extent of madness,” she added.

McLeodganj near here is the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Around 140,000 Tibetans live in exile, of which over 100,000 are in different parts of India.

HPCA press secretary Narinder Attari said the Tibetan community seemed more inclined to watch the second match. “Nearly 5,000 exiles and monks are expected to witness the April 18 match when His Holiness would be the chief guest,” he said.

Around 20,000 spectators are expected to witness each of the matches at the picturesque HPCA stadium here, some 250 km from state capital Shimla. It will host a match between Kings XI Punjab and Deccan Chargers Friday. It would be a day and night match.