**Bhubaneswar:** The street hawkers of Delhi and Kolkata, the current and former capitals of India, await for the frenzy fans of hockey amidst the Hockey World League Final so that they can encash on the national sentiments for a living.
Achinta Bointa hails from Delhi and had alighted on the railway platform on the first day of the tournament.
“During the last sports congregation in Bhubaneswar, the crowd was more interested in the flags and tricolor bands, but this time the fever has lessened down. I hope India wins the match against England tonight so that the fever grips again and I will be able to earn something. Otherwise I have to move away from Bhubaneswar to Dharamsala as there is a cricket match to be held there on 10 December,” said Achinta.
He is in this trade since last last two decades and is content to earn a decent living which supports his family.
Similarly, Mongal Biswas from Kolkata is full of energy, be it painting the cheeks in tricolor or selling bands. He is in this trade for last two years.
“I earn around Rs 1000 per day during such matches. To paint a face, I charge Rs 20, a band costs Rs 20 and the tricolor flag is sold in two prices, Rs 50 and Rs 100. I roam across the country, be it New Delhi, Gujarat, Pune and cover all sorts of matches like cricket, hockey and football,” he reveals proudly.
Notably, the Hockey World League (HWL) Final started at the Kalinga Stadium here on Friday with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurating the tournament.
