Cricket, the great popular sport
For European malicious tongues, it would be so boring that the British would never have succeeded in exporting it anywhere other than their colonies! India played its first official match against England in 1932. After its second World Cup victory (in 2011), created in 1975, it ranks second in the number of victories behind Australia (5). The next edition of the World Cup is scheduled for India in 2023.
Cricket is even more enthusiastic in India than soccer is in France - it's a real passion! In Delhi, for example, gardens and the smallest spaces between houses become playing fields. The fever rises whenever a professional match is played at the Firoz Shah Kotla stadium. Queues are endless to buy a ticket and the black market explodes. Finally, since the 1980s, the sport has also helped to ease relations between India and Pakistan, another famous national team. Some political scientists even speak of "cricket diplomacy".
Field hockey, a national sport
Field field hockey originated in Asia: it is said to have been invented in Persia in 2000 B.C. It was introduced to India by the British. The first field hockey club was formed in Calcutta in 1885, followed by Bombay and Punjab. India played in the Amsterdam Olympics for the first time in 1928. A national sport, field hockey brought India a string of Olympic medals (including 8 gold). It was between 1928 and 1956 that the country broke all records, winning 6 consecutive gold medals, scoring 178 goals and conceding just 7. The last field field hockey World Cup took place in Bhubaneswar in December 2018, and India was eliminated in the quarter-finals by the Dutch. The next edition will be held in 2026 in the Netherlands and Belgium.
A country of badminton
Badminton is the direct descendant of poona, an Indian racket game played by officers of the British Empire in the 1860s. It is played indoors, on a court 13.40 m long and 5.18 m wide, with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock. Although the competitions are largely dominated by neighboring China, this Olympic sport has won three medals - one silver and two bronze - for the Indian delegation. India will host the 30th World Championships in 2026.
Kabaddi, an ancient sport
It's a popular team sport in India, but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Southeast Asia, Japan and Iran. Over 4,000 years old, kabaddi is a popular team sport in rural India. It's becoming increasingly popular in Delhi! In the parks, during family picnics, you'll see games being quickly organized. Its name is often chanted during matches. It comes from a Hindi word meaning "to hold one's breath", an important action in the sport itself. It's a kind of "dodgeball" between two teams of seven men who compete on a field. One of the teams sends a hunter into enemy territory, who has to hit his opponent by continuously repeating the word kabaddi without catching his breath. Once the opponent has been hit, the hunter tries to return to his camp without breathing again, while the opposing team tries to prevent him from doing so by restraining him until he loses his breath. If the hunter fails, he's out of the game. If the hunter returns victorious, the opponent who has been hit leaves the field. In the next round, the roles are reversed.
Discovering yoga
The country is steeped in two different philosophies, each encompassing very different currents of practice. There are the stika philosophies that recognize the authority of the Vedas, such as Hinduism, and those that reject them. The aim of yoga is to achieve liberation from the conditioning that generates suffering. The yoga practitioner is called a yogi. There are two distinct types of yoga practice: Hatha Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.
Hatha Yoga consists in the practice of specific exercises, the aim of which is to strengthen the mastery of body and mind until the liberation of a higher consciousness. The yogi achieves liberation and becomes aware of his or her true nature. The yoga we know in the West is a derivative form, often stripped of its spiritual substance.
Bhakti Yoga involves the adoration and devotional worship of a personal god. Bhakti (literally devotion) is part of most religious traditions. Its founder, Basava, rejected the supremacy of Brahmins and the caste system. The practice of Bhakti is immediately accessible to all. If it doesn't eliminate the worst part of the caste system, at least it offers people a temporary respite.
Many activities
Horseback riding and polo. In Rahjasthan, the horse, once the locals' means of locomotion, is used for special occasions such as weddings and, of course, for polo, trail riding and horse racing... Delhi is home to numerous horse-riding clubs, and the Indian metropolis has become the national leader in the elite sport of polo.
Golf. There are many greens in Delhi. The Delhi Golf Club, with its 27 holes (18 + 9) among venerable trees and monuments, is one of the most renowned. It hosts more Professional Golfers' Association tournaments than any other course in India.
Camel safari. The dromedary (one-humped) and the camel (two-humped) are still widely used in Rajasthan. You'll come across them regularly on the state's back roads, pulling heavy carts loaded with stones or fodder. The camel also plays an important role in promoting tourism in the region, and many safaris are organized in the Thar Desert. From a few hours at the famous Sam Dune in Jaisalmer to a multi-day excursion around the City of Gold, Jodhpur or Bikaner, there are many opportunities to explore the desert. A two-day experience, including a night under the stars on a sand dune, is a must. You'll have a sore crotch on the way back, but the photos and memories will be unforgettable.
