Kolkata Derby Football 🏆

The theme song for the 2025 Kho Kho World Cup is "Kho Kho, the game of speed and grace". It has been held in New Delhi since yesterday. This is not the fourteenth festival for the people of Kolkata. The Bengali proverb "Baro Mase Tero Parbon" translates to "Thirteen festivals in twelve months" in English. But actually there are fourteenth festivals. But the fourteenth festival usually celebrated more than once per year which usually happens twice or once in case of other festivals.

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The fourteenth festival has been held since 1921 in UDB. It has been held 401 times in more than 100 years. It is not necessary to be held in Bengal. Last Saturday the latest Derby was held at Guwahati Assam as the venue was shifted due lack of security. Like a destination event it may be held anywhere in India. But when it was held in Kolkata the gathering of devotees exceeded thousands more than the other festivals. The recorded highest gathering was 1.34 lakh when it was held in Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krriangan in 1997 of Kolkata Derby. It was a semifinal match between East Bengal FC and Mohan Bagan. If it had more capacity it would have filled with double attendance. So crowd wise it is the most populous and popular event in the city.

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East Bengal club is fascinating in Red and Yellow jersey while Mohan Bagan prefers Merun and Green jersey. They have the symbols such as Torch for East Bengal and Boat for Mohan Bagan.

Many people including me are very much concerned about the performance of East Bengal in the last ten Derby matches of ISL when they lost to Mohan Bagan in nine matches and could win a single match. Kolkata Derby is one of oldest of the world and oldest in Asia.

In general most of the club conduct Bar Puja or Frame worshiping in the beginning of the new tournament season on the auspicious first day of Bengali New year when all players, club officials, members and suy gather to celebrate the retuals.

Though the spectators are arch rivals but they shout and support for common demands like Justice for #RGKar.

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