Going 'Chak de India' in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, March 31 (IANS) The sun never sets on the cricket-crazy Indian diaspora. Over 200 Indians broke into dance and celebratory chants of 'Chak de India' at a downtown restaurant in the Ethiopian capital as India trounced Pakistan in the blockbuster World Cup semifinal.

As the last ball of the match was bowled Wednesday night, sealing the Indian triumph in this mother of all matches, persons of Indian Origin exploded into uninhibited revelry. The tricolour fluttered in the nippy evening. Champagne bottles were uncorked, beer bottles were tossed into the air, and picked up deftly without crashing into the floor.

The Broadway restaurant, where the screening was held, had attracted a motley crowd of Indians who have been living here for decades. The restaurant is owned by Asghgar Bhai, a cricket-crazy Ethiopian who studied in Pune.

"I am so happy India won. I love India, cricket, music and dance," he told the visiting IANS correspondent.

Viren Joshi, who teaches maths at a local school, could barely conceal his enthusiasm. "There could be no better news than the Indian victory," he said as he hugged tipsy revellers amid chants of "Mubarak Ho" and "Munni badnam hui", the hip-hopping item number that's as much a rage here as it is in India.