Sports

Most people in Kolkata have two 'religious' - the faith in which  they were born, and their choice of support for one of the three big football teams in the city - East Bengal, Mohan Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting. Since everyone celebrates everyone else's religious festivals, all the fanaticism is reserved for the 'football-faith'. It is not only football - though it has an edge - that people follow, they are cricket-crazy too. The world's greatest players have spoken about the experience of playing before an almost 100,000 strong, very vocal and equally appreciative crowd at Kolkata's  Eden Gardens Stadium. Racing too is very popular and an ideal afternoon can be spent at Kolkata's  excellent racecourse. Kolkata boasts of the world's second oldest golf courses at the Royal Kolkata Golf Club and the unique Ladies' Golf Course. There are other good golf courses at the Tollygunge Club and the Army's Fort William. Hockey also has its following. Kolkata South Club is the venue for many a stirring national and international tennis battle and has been the nursery from which many of the country's tennis greats have sprung. Squash, badminton, basketball, volleyball and indoor sports also attract large crowds.