On 23rd Sept. ‘23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the upcoming International Cricket Stadium in Varanasi. Cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Ravi Shastri attended the foundation stone laying ceremony. Many other prominent personalities such as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President, Vice-President and Secretary (Roger Binny, Rajiv Shukla and Jay Shah respectively) were also present at the event. The cricket icons arrived at the ceremony after offering prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple. During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented an official Indian cricket team jersey to cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Lord Shiva-Inspired Cricket Stadium in The Spiritual City of Varanasi
India is home to the largest cricket stadium in the world, with the inauguration of Narendra Modi Stadium in 2020. And now, with the development of the new cricket stadium in Varanasi, our country has made another great contribution to Indian cricket. Varanasi is also known as the spiritual capital of India. The city has been a pilgrimage centre for centuries and is renowned for its rich heritage. During the foundation stone laying ceremony, PM Modi described the cricket stadium as:
“This stadium in the city of ‘Mahadev’ will be dedicated to ‘Mahadev’ himself.”
He further added that this cricket stadium will be the star of the Purvanchal region. Aimed at giving wings to young cricketers, this stadium’s design is themed after Lord Shiva.
A Closer Look at the Varanasi International Cricket Stadium
The architectural design of Varanasi cricket stadium symbolises the divine energy of Lord Shiva. This stadium’s infrastructural theme pays homage to Varanasi’s cultural heritage. With crescent-shaped roof canopies and trident (Trishul) shaped floodlights, the stadium draws inspiration from the Hindu deity (Lord Shiva). The floodlights would also be shaped like a damaru, which is a sacred musical instrument. As per reports, the spectators’ gallery seating would resemble Varanasi’s Ganga ghat steps. It will feature metallic sheets on the facade resembling the sacred plant Bilvipatra. As the cricket stadium’s design is associated with Lord Shiva, the event was filled with chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ by the audience.
Interesting Facts About Varanasi’s International Cricket Stadium
“Ab jo khelega vahi khilega” was one of the highlights of PM Modi’s speech during the event. Interestingly, the features of this new cricket stadium stand true to this statement. In PM Modi’s Parliamentary constituency, the stadium will be constructed on over 30 acres of land in Ganjari, Rajatalab. Reportedly, the government of Uttar Pradesh spent around Rs 121 crores to acquire the land. One of the highlights of this stadium is that it will have special VVIP VIP zones, corporate boxes and lounges with special dining facilities. Additionally, this stadium will have a capacity of seating around 30,000 spectators. Furthermore, the authorities are planning to increase this seating capacity to 40,000 in the near future.
The cricket stadium in Ganjari, Varanasi, will be Uttar Pradesh’s third international stadium. As per reports, the stadium’s construction will be completed by December 2025. Additionally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will spend Rs 330 crores to construct this project.
Summing Up
Once completed, this one-of-a-kind sporting venue will have 9 pitches. It will also have a provision for a floodlighting mast to facilitate GD broadcasting. With exclusive net practice grounds and an exceptional drainage system, the stadium will be a perfect sporting avenue for emerging talent. Due to these amazing features, Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of every sports enthusiast in UP. He further emphasised the importance of sporting avenues in areas other than the metropolitan cities. The Varanasi Cricket Stadium resonates with the idea of Khelega India Tabhi Toh Badhega India.
