By the time Argentina’s players emerged from the tunnel on Wednesday evening, familiar songs had already begun rolling around the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The crowd came from Buenos Aires and Cordoba, from Rosario and Mendoza.

But they also came with unmistakably different accents from Kolkata and Dhaka, from Kochi and Varanasi, from South Asian immigrant neighbourhoods across the United States.

Every World Cup creates adopted nations. Few have ever been adopted with the devotion that Argentina inspires in South Asia.

The relationship has always seemed improbable. Nearly 16,000 kilometres separate Buenos Aires from Dhaka or Thiruvananthapuram. There is little shared history, little common language and few cultural overlaps.

Yet every four years, countless homes across India and Bangladesh become temporary Argentine territory. Streets fill with blue-and-white flags, children paint their faces, neighbourhoods get together to pray for Diego Maradona and now Lionel Messi.

The connection has outlived generations.

For many, it began with Diego weaving through England in the summer of 1986, turning football into folklore. For another generation, it arrived through Messi, whose genius travelled effortlessly through the television screens into homes where sleep was willingly sacrificed for matches played in distant time zones.

Among those inside the stadium were a father and son from Varanasi. Vipul, who runs an export business, was a young man when Maradona conquered Mexico.

Like millions across the subcontinent, He found himself bewitched by the No. 10 in the sky-blue shirt and four decades back he had to go on a hunt in Delhi’s Sarojini Market to get a cheap replica of the famous jersey. The shirt has now faded, the hair greyed, but the affection remains.

“Television was still a novelty in India back then and the 1986 World Cup was perhaps the first time when all of us watched live international football. It almost felt like Maradona was fighting against the entire world and winning. You had to be bewitched by his genius,” Vipul said.

For son Anmol, his Argentina is Messi’s Argentina. The tears in 2014, the Copa America disappointments, the redemption in 2021 and, finally, Qatar in 2022 are his footballing memories.

Now working in the United States, he persuaded his father to make the journey to Atlanta to support the team they love. Together they watched Argentina overturn England to reach another World Cup final.

They are now heading north to New Jersey, hoping to witness Messi lifting another World Cup trophy.

Football offers opportunities for fathers and sons to discover the same love through different heroes. There are many from Dhaka, Chittagong, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, who have made the same journey to follow the blue-and-white in the United States.

Rupak Saha, sporting the blue-and-gold of his beloved East Bengal, was in Atlanta shouting for Messi. “We want Messi to give us another World Cup. We are all here for him,” he said.

The scale of that affection even surprises those inside the dressing room. On the eve of the semifinal, a Bangladeshi journalist asked Lionel Scaloni about the extraordinary support Argentina receives in Bangladesh.

He admitted that his players remain astonished that people on the other side of the world celebrate victories with the same emotion as families in Argentina.

“They are surprised,” Scaloni said. “Thrilled that a country on the other end of the world supports us, loves us and feels proud wearing our blue-and-white stripes.”

Perhaps that is the greatest compliment any national team can receive.

Argentina has also attracted criticism throughout this tournament. Opponents have questioned refereeing decisions, social media has filled with accusations of favourable treatment, the unfurling of a Falklands banner, repeated confrontation with the referees and opponents have ignited arguments.

Yet those debates have barely dented Argentina’s global appeal.

Inside stadiums across this World Cup, the neutral support often seems to tilt unmistakably towards Argentina. Every Messi touch still draws a collective gasp. Every comeback is celebrated by supporters with no Argentine passport. And among those neutrals, South Asians remain remarkably visible.

Perhaps it is because Argentina has always offered more than victories. Its football has carried romance and suffering in equal measure.

It has produced flawed heroes, impossible dribbles, glorious failures and unforgettable redemption. Maradona gave millions permission to believe that genius could overcome power. Messi showed that perseverance could eventually overcome heartbreak.

For countless supporters in India and Bangladesh, those stories are deeply personal, untouched by the oceans that lie between them.

As Atlanta emptied into the humid Georgia night, Argentine songs once again echoed through the streets. Some voices belonged to people returning home to Buenos Aires. Others would soon begin journeys back to Dhaka, Kolkata, Kochi, Chennai, Delhi or Varanasi.

Bhadohi (UP):

Hospitals have been built at three police stations premises on National Highway 19 between Varanasi and Prayagraj for the convenience of devotees coming to the holy city for Maha Kumbh.

Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Manglik on Sunday said that hospitals have been built in Aurai, Gopiganj and Unj police station premises of the Bhadohi district.

All the three hospitals will start functioning smoothly on January 14.

One of the routes for people from many states including Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh to reach Prayagraj is through Bhadohi, Mangalik told PTI.

Out of the 82-km stretch between Varanasi and Prayagraj, 45 km falls in Bhadohi district, he said, adding that lakhs of devotees coming to Maha Kumbh will pass through this route.

So, these hospitals will be helpful for devotees who need medical assistance, the SP said.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Santosh Kumar Chak said a doctor, paramedical staff and all the necessary medicines will be available round-the-clock at these hospitals.

Apart from this, these hospitals will be in contact with other government and private hospitals for any emergency situation, the CMO said, adding that an ambulance will be present at every police station hospital. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Laurene Powell Jobs, the wife of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Saturday before heading to Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh. Ms Lawrence was accompanied by Swami Kailashanand Giri Ji Maharaj of Niranjani Akhara to the temple.

Wearing an Indian attire (a pink suit and a white ‘dupatta’ on her head), Ms Laurene offered prayers from outside the sanctum sanctorum at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

“She followed the traditions of the temple…As per our Indian tradition, in Kashi Vishwanath, no other Hindu can touch the Shivling. That’s why she was made to see the Shivling from outside,” Kailashanand Giri said.

#WATCH | Varanasi, UP | Kailashanand Giri Ji Maharaj of Niranjani Akhara, along with Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. pic.twitter.com/TMv1W3t4iw

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025

He also mentioned that they prayed for the successful completion of the Maha Kumbh without any obstacles or difficulty.

“Today, we have come to Kashi to pray to Mahadev that the Kumbh is completed without any obstacles… I came here to invite Mahadev. Our disciple Maharshi Vyasanand is with us from America. Tomorrow he is becoming a Mahamandaleshwar in my Akhara,” he added.

Ms Laurene, who was renamed as ‘Kamala’, will attend the upcoming Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj. According to Kailashanand Giri, she will stay in Kumbh and is also planning to take a dip in Ganga.

‘Maha Kumbh’, the grand mela, is scheduled to begin on January 13 and conclude on February 26 in Prayagraj. It is held once every 12 years. On Saturday, a major water laser show showcasing key events related to the Maha Kumbh was inaugurated by the Industrial Development Minister, Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, at the Yamuna Bank Ghat in Prayagraj. The show, prepared at a cost of nearly Rs 20 crore, was held for 45 minutes.

The UP government has implemented extensive security measures and made elaborate arrangements to ensure a safe and grand celebration of the event. Thousands of AI-powered CCTVs, underwater drones, and state-of-the-art facilities for visitors and devotees have been set up. At least electric buses have been deployed across the state for devotees, with 30 more buses expected from Lucknow to ensure seamless transportation across various routes.

Varanasi:

At least 200 two-wheelers were charred as a massive fire broke out in the vehicle parking area of Varanasi’s Cantt railway station in Uttar Pradesh during the early hours of Saturday.

Visuals show a huge blaze in the parking area as officials of the fire brigade and police department were engaged in dousing the fire. In one of the videos, a team of police officials can be seen bringing a water hose to the incident site and splashing water on the fire. Massive smoke and a haze due to the smoke can also be seen.

Around 12 fire brigade vehicles reached the spot to extinguish the fire, along with teams of Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF), and local police team, officials said.

There were no reports of injuries.

According to the initial investigation, the fire was caused due to a short circuit.

“There were some cycles too that have been burnt…The fire was due to a short circuit. We are conducting further investigation,” CO GRP Kunwar Bahadur Singh said.

Most of the two-wheelers that were burnt in the incident belong to railway employees, officials said.

“I parked my bike around 12 am…One of the people near the vehicle parking told me that one short circuit had already taken place around 11 pm and was fixed. After a few hours, one passenger told me that there was a huge fire outside. I took out my bike and parked it on the other side…Soon after, the fire had spread across the parking lot,” a railway employee said.

The fire was put out after two hours, officials said.

Ayush Jaiswal, co-founder and CEO of Pesto Tech, has made a heartfelt appeal on social media, requesting urgent help in protecting his family’s property in Varanasi. Mr Jaiswal, an Indian-origin entrepreneur based in the United States, claimed that a group of individuals is attempting to seize his father Rajendra Jaiswal’s shop. He took to X to share his distress, describing the situation as “painful to watch” especially since he was in the US and unable to personally intervene.

In his post, he claimed that an employee, accompanied by a group of individuals, forcibly broke into the shop, replaced the locks, and unlawfully occupied the premises. Despite his father’s attempts to report the incident to the police, Mr Jaiswal alleged that his father was thrown out of the police station. He expressed concerns about the threats faced by his family and urged attention to the matter, highlighting the difficulties his elderly father was facing due to the alleged land-grabbing attempts. 

“Urgent Appeal for Justice. I am in the US right now & it’s so painful to see my father suffer with thugs trying to take up his property with Police literally looking the other way. I’m posting this on behalf of my father in case X can help,” he wrote on X.

“This person is a relative who has a gun and has been indirectly threatening for a long time. I’ve recordings of him cornering me and harassing me. He’s constantly trying to extort money. Unfortunately, this comes when I hired him and have given him a stable job for years. He decided to keep my property,” he added.

See the post here:

Urgent Appeal for Justice

I’m in the US right now & it’s so painful to see my father suffer with thugs trying to take up his property with Police literally looking the other way.

I’m posting this on behalf of my father in case X can help.

A senior citizen, Mr. Rajendra…

— Ayush Jaiswal (@aayushjaiswal07) November 25, 2024

In response to the post, the police said that it was a property-related family dispute and that they have registered a case.

“It is a property-related family dispute (between complainant and his sister’s son). FIR has been registered and investigation has started. Action will be taken on merit,” said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Kashi Zone, on their official X account.

जांच एवं आवश्यक कार्यवाही हेतु सहायक पुलिस आयुक्त चेतगंज (9454401637) को निर्देशित किया गया है ।

— DCP Kashi (@VnsDcp) November 25, 2024

Internet users offered words of support and many expressed hope for a swift and fair resolution to the dispute. Mr Jaiswal later thanked the police for their response and clarified that one of his cousins was causing the trouble. He wrote, “Thank you! That’s right. One of my cousins has been creating the trouble. Quite unfortunate.”

Varanasi:

Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi on Friday witnessed spectacular fireworks and a mesmerizing laser show on the occasion of Dev Deepawali.

The festivities were attended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

The festivities illuminated the night sky over the sacred river Ganga, as thousands of devotees gathered on the Ghats to celebrate the auspicious occasion.

Amidst the chanting of ‘Har Har Mahadev’, people enjoyed boat rides as fireworks lit up the heavens. The celebrations also featured a grand Aarti at Saryu Ghat in Ayodhya.

The laser and sound show at Chet Singh Ghat further added to the vibrant atmosphere, as the city reverberated with spiritual fervor.

pic.twitter.com/0qyMdlZ5LS

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) November 15, 2024

In the grand event, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath call Kashi “unique on the occasion said that the city has preserved its tradition and culture while transforming remarkably over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

“In the last 10 years, we have witnessed a changing India, and the people of Kashi have been part of this transformation. Kashi has preserved its tradition and culture while emerging anew. Ten years ago, experts wouldn’t even recommend using the water of the Ganga here for bathing due to pollution,” CM Yogi said during an event marking Dev Deepawali in Varanasi.

He further highlighted the cleaning of the Ganga under the Namami Gange project, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Under PM Modi’s leadership, the river has been cleaned as part of the Namami Gange project. Today, its water is so clean that it can even be used for drinking,” he added.

The Chief Minister praised Kashi as a magnificent spiritual and religious centre. “Our Kashi is unique across the three worlds. It is the sacred abode of Baba Vishwanath, with the uninterrupted flow of Mother Ganga and its holy pilgrimages presenting Kashi as a magnificent spiritual and religious hub for India and the world,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

So far as car thefts go, this one from Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi breaks new grounds. The ‘car’ in question was actually a two-wheeler. But that does not detract from the uniqueness of the modus operandi.

The owner of the scooty – the resident of a flat in Varanasi’s Kabir Nagar – has said a girl in a school uniform had come to her and asked for the keys of her two-wheeler. 

The scooty needs to be moved, she had said. 

Seeing the school uniform, the woman had handed over the keys.

What happened next was caught on the CCTV camera installed outside the building. 

The footage shows the girl turning the scooty around carefully, taking furtive glances to see if anyone is watching. Then she starts the vehicle and comfortably rides away.

But it may not be a ride into the sunset. The police are now searching for her.

The scooty owner has filed a complaint with the Varanasi police, on basis of which a First Information Report has been registered. 

Varanasi:

Common people have high hopes from the Union Budget 2024-25 which will be presented in the Parliament on Tuesday. Speaking to IANS, small traders from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi have shared their thoughts on the Union Budget.

Chandanlal, who runs a Banarasi saree business, said, “We have a lot of expectations from the Modi government, including reduction of GST on Banarasi sarees. There is high demand for our art and tradition, but due to increasing GST, sales are decreasing. If the government provides some help to promote our business, Banarasi sarees can reach people at lower prices.”

Surya, who runs a guest house in Varanasi, told IANS, “The government should put an end to the commission given to brokers who bring guests to hotels or guest houses. Also, the GST on stays is very high. Even if a guest stays for one day, he or she will have to pay 12 per cent GST. To promote tourism, the government should reduce GST.”

Another trader said, “We hope the government will provide tax relief to small businesses. Also, the prices of goods used in restaurants, such as lentils and raw materials are increasing. The government should address this problem faced by the small traders like us.”

Another trader from Varanasi hopes that the government will present a Budget that provides relief to both traders and the common people. “The government should ensure that people do not get disappointed with the Budget. Also, the government needs to reduce taxes.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Varanasi:

Two youth, Ved Prakash Yadav and Aman Yadav Katta, were arrested for imitating a scene from the popular OTT series ‘Mirzapur’ for a social media reel, the police said.

According to the police, the two have been arrested over a viral video showing Ved taking a round of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Malviya’s statue in a car, with both of his legs on the dashboard.

The video also shows Ved smoking while sitting on a chair, even as Aman is standing behind him.

In the background, the theme song of ‘Mirzapur’ is playing.

Inspector Cantt Shivakant Mishra said that the duo had been arrested on charges of disturbing public peace.

Both the youth were produced before a magistrate and later released on bail.

The police official said that after the video went viral, resentment started brewing among locals as the reel had been shot near legendary freedom fighter and founder of BHU Bharat Ratna Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya’s statue.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Varanasi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made a surprise visit to the under-construction Varanasi stadium and sports complex to review the work in progress there after attending a Kisan Samman Sammelan, Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, and praying at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Taking to X, PM Modi wrote: “Reviewed the progress at the Dr. Sampurnanand Sports Stadium in Kashi. This stadium and sports complex will greatly help the youth of Kashi.”

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his visit to the upcoming sports facility.

In the pictures shared by PM Modi, he can be seen interacting with the officials over the model of the sports complex besides inspecting other facilities.

The sports facility seems to be coming up along world-class standards with floodlights and lush green outfields.

This was PM Modi’s first visit to his constituency after scoring a hat-trick from Varanasi in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)