Shillong: Kolkata is once again displaying its profound devotion to football as the city turns its streets into a massive, open-air gallery for the FIFA World Cup. Long before the tournament kickoff, residents began transforming local lanes with elaborate murals and national flags. By mid-June, neighborhoods like Howrah were already lined with giant banners dedicated to international stars.
The city remains famously divided by a long-standing rivalry between supporters of Brazil and Argentina. However, the emotional victory for Lionel Messi in the 2022 tournament in Qatar shifted the local landscape. Messi now dominates the city's wall art, effectively securing a place in the public imagination that transcends traditional fan loyalties.
Photographer Rupak De Chowdhuri, who has documented this biennial ritual for years, captures how residents treat these displays as a core part of their civic identity rather than mere decoration. His work highlights the deep cultural intersection where professional football meets daily life.
On one prominent mural, the faces of Neymar, Raphinha, Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo sit side by side. The juxtaposition illustrates the city's inclusive passion for the sport, even among those who hold fierce personal allegiances. As local children play in the streets against backdrops of global legends, the scene serves as a testament to the city's enduring connection to the game.
Commenting on the phenomenon, photographer Rupak De Chowdhuri noted that his images capture the way the city holds football, stating, "the way Kolkata holds football not as entertainment, not as sport exactly, but as a kind of civic identity." While the city lacks its own national team entry, the intense preparations in tea stalls and alleyways confirm that for Kolkatans, the World Cup is a local event defined by tradition and paint.
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