As Durga Puja festivities grip the country, people are thronging the state of West Bengal to witness the grandeur of the Navratri festival. Every year, the state presents pandals themed on a variety of issues and people from different fields come here to take part in the celebrations. In a similar scene, former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho Gaúcho on Monday visited a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. He came to the city on Sunday to take part in the ongoing festivities among other engagements.
The 2005 Ballon d'or winner will also be meeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence and will be handing over a Brazilian jersey to her as a gift. The legendary footballer will go to the puja of Ahirtola youth group and will later join the program of the Indian Football Association (IFA).
He arrived in Kolkata on Sunday for a two-day visit and was welcomed by a crowd of supporters at the airport.
The visit by the legendary footballer is a gift to the people of the city of joy ahead of Durga Puja. Kolkata is known for its love for football with a majority supporting Brazil. The visit comes at a time when the city is preparing for Bengal's biggest festival, with just days to go for the festivities to begin. Like all the other years, clubs in the city picked up social causes or relevant issues as themes for their pandals. However, Sreebhumi - a popular pandal hopping spot - which earlier made a Burj Khalifa replica as the pandal - this year has a Disneyland theme and has already started pulling the crowd.
Earlier this month, Ronaldinho had informed about his visit to India and events that he would take part in.
"Hello Everybody, I will be doing my maiden trip to Kolkata this mid-October and will participate in many charitable activities including visiting my R10 Football academy where I will interact with kids at Merlin Rise. Will also see the many cultural aspects and be part of the Durga Puja Festivities by visiting Shree Bhumi Sporting, Ahirtola Yuvak Brindo, Baruipur, Green Park & Rishra," he said.
He said he would also be part of a Charity football match and also grace Diamond Harbour FC ground.
"I would also interact with sponsors and many felicitation programs and promote the beautiful game. I know Kolkata has huge Brazil fans and I am very excited to meet them," he said.
Mentioning about meeting CM Mamata, he said, "It would be a huge honour to meet the Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal and gift her a jersey. I know Cricket is very popular and this time I want to learn cricket from Bengals “ Dada”. "