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The Derby : Ilish Vs. Chingri




The Derby :  Ilish Vs. Chingri


If we stroll around at a clingy North Kolkata lane after the eminent Mohun Bagan – East Bengal Derby held yesterday (09/04/2017) at the Kanchenjunga Stadium, customary quarrels accompanied by Tea and cutlets about the most awaited derby of India can be witnessed by their endearing fans. Rivalry in Bengal can be disseminated into the delicacies of Politics, Films and Sports. The Milan Derby, the Manchester Derby, El Classico, Merseyside Derby- these are some of the most awaited derbies for football fans all around the world during a regular football season. In India, these famous derbies are equally awaited, but an Indian football fanatic especially from Bengal looks for only one match when the local league fixtures are announced - East Bengal versus Mohun Bagan or the Kolkata Derby or just 'The Derby'. 
 Henceforth, Football being a soul of the City, the day before the ‘Great Derby’ divides the city into a couple of colors –Maroon & Green symbolizes Mohun Bagan and Yellow & Red symbolizes East Bengal.
This match is easily India's most extravagant derby and one of the most iconic in the world. Termed the 'Boro' meaning Big in Bengali, attendances for this match border around the 100,000 inside the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The passion and hostility exhibited by both sets of fans are on par with the other famous derbies of the world. This has prompted FIFA to include this fixture in its 'List of Classic Rivalries'. 
Well this rivalry between the two teams comprises of some specific reasons which is the most intriguing part of Indian Football. No such team or football admirer has gone through such emotional outbursts related to the game. An intense touch of love and loyalty is witnessed for their respective team. The fans of Mohun Bagan are known as the 'Ghotis' while supporters of East Bengal are called as 'Bangals'. The Calcutta “bhadraloks” (gentlemen) who ran Mohun Bagan often discriminated against athletes from the eastern parts of Bengal (now Bangladesh), whose culinary tastes, accents and dressing senses  were often  ridiculed by the more “civilised” city elite.  Mohun Bagan fanatics celebrate the derby win with prawn while the 'Bangals' prefer ‘Hilsa’ fish. In certain parts of Kolkata, the favorite fish chosen by the winning team's supporters goes up for sale in the morning at highly affordable prices. So they rather summon it as the conflict between Hilsa Vs Prawn or the Epic warfare between Ghoti Vs Bangal.
Mohun Bagan ended their 743 day winless I-League Kolkata Derby record as they recorded a 2-1 victory over East Bengal at the Kanchenjuga Stadium in SIliguri on Sunday. While the Mohun Bagan Fans rejoiced at their utmost voice the dejected faces of the East Bengal lovers were seen.
 Last but not the least we intend to say that Ideas Sports Management Group has been cordially associated with both the Clubs in the past and we are successfully maintaining an affectionate bond with them till date. We ardently congratulate Mohun Bagan on their marvelous victory and we wish to see more of a good football from both the teams which will benefit Indian Football in the days to come.
Let’s savor both the Ilish (Hilsa) and the Chingri (Prawn) over hot steamed rice someday.




Location: Kolkata, West Bengal, India

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