India-West Indies ODI brings festive buzz, business boom around Barsapara | Guwahati News

Fans enjoy the match at Barsapara stadium

Guwahati: The India-West Indies second ODI at Barsapara cricket stadium brought more than just cricket fans to the area, with food vendors, face painters and merchandise sellers doing brisk business as spectators gathered to eat, shop and celebrate.The area outside the stadium was crowded from early morning, with fans gathering ahead of the match. Food-stall owners, face painters and merchandise sellers prepared to meet the demand. While business was slow in the morning, vendors said sales picked up considerably in the afternoon.“During major sporting events or other events, these crowds provide a boost to small vendors like us, who usually depend on large gatherings to increase our sales,” said Pallabi Dasgupta, a restaurateur and a resident of the Barsapara area.Children were also seen roaming around the area with colours ready to paint the faces of fans. “Most of them are looking for the Indian tricolour flag or Virat Kohli’s name to be painted on their faces. The cost depends on the size, but the starting price is Rs 50,” said a young face painter.Jersey and merchandise sellers were among the busiest vendors outside the stadium, with vendors setting up temporary stalls to cater to fans looking to wear their favourite players’ colours during the match.Some sellers had travelled from outside Assam to tap the demand generated by the international fixture. They arrived with a wide range of merchandise, including jerseys, caps, wristbands and other fan accessories, hoping to make the most of the turnout around the stadium.“Jerseys start from Rs 200, caps are priced at Rs 150, while bands cost Rs 50,” said Deepankar Haldar, a seller from West Bengal.He said jerseys bearing names of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among the best-selling items, with fans showing a strong preference for the two veteran cricketers.