At the Gandhi Stadium basketball ground located in the Surguja division headquarters of Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, players from the basketball association family have displayed a unique blend of sportsmanship and unity by decorating their sports arena with vibrant rangolis for the auspicious festival of Diwali. The court has been adorned with various sports themes and intricate rangoli designs that instantly catch the eye of anyone looking at the ground. Notably, the tradition of creating rangolis on the Gandhi Stadium basketball court during Diwali has been maintained continuously since the year 2013.
Treating the Sports Ground Like Home
Ahead of Diwali, the basketball players clean their sports arena and celebrate the festival by embellishing it with rangolis and earthen lamps. Just as families clean and decorate their homes for the festival of lights, these players consider the sports ground to be their home and lavish similar care upon it. The most remarkable aspect of this celebration is that the players do not stop at merely creating rangolis; on the occasions of Chhoti Diwali and Badi Diwali, all the players gather in the evening to light lamps across the entire basketball ground.
Basketball player Ilisiba shared that their coach Rajesh Pratap Singh provides constant guidance, and for the players, this ground is not just a playing area but their home. Just as people decorate their houses for Diwali, all the basketball players come together to spruce up their ground. She noted that this tradition has been ongoing for many years, with senior female players initiating the practice in the past and the younger generation carrying it forward now. Working together to create rangolis and celebrate the festival brings immense joy to everyone involved.
Another basketball player, Anamika Choubey, mentioned that she has been playing at this ground since 2022, and long before her arrival, the tradition of making rangolis on Diwali was already well established. Every year, boys and girls come together on Diwali morning to craft rangolis based on various themes. She expressed that alongside playing basketball, all the players celebrate every festival like a single family. On Chhoti and Badi Diwali, players arrive at the ground, light lamps, and share happiness, viewing the space as a family environment rather than just a sports venue.
Reflecting Sports Passion Through Colors
Basketball coach Rajesh Pratap Singh stated that the ground was established in 2013, and ever since, players have been decorating the venue with rangolis on Diwali. In this creative endeavor, the girls form individual groups and prepare rangolis according to their imagination and sportsmanship, with each group comprising five to six players. He explained that while some rangolis capture the essence of basketball, others express the players' dreams of reaching greater heights and winning medals through colors. Certain rangolis also vividly portray core gameplay themes such as defense and offense.
