From School Holidays To Painted Homes: How Kerala Turns FIFA World Cup Into Statewide Carnival
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Kerala has always had a deep love for football. For decades, posters and banners have lined streets and cities across the state every FIFA World Cup season.
This year, the state government even declared a school holiday to watch the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, with the latter eventually throning the world championship. The football frenzy in the state had turned into a statewide carnival, with visible seasonal activities and hues.
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There were massive community screenings and gigantic cutouts of players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar. Intense fan club rivalries were everywhere. Villages split into opposing team camps, with residents painting their homes, cars, and even other belongings in the colours of their favourite teams.
