What are the features of Lord Shiva inspired new Varanasi cricket stadium?

On Saturday, September 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for a cricket stadium in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi district with a Lord Shiva motif. The stadium is expected to cost roughly INR 330 crore to build on land worth INR 121 crore. 

The stadium will have a seating capacity of up to 30,000, which will be expandable up to 40,000 in future. It will have total of nine pitches and there is a provision for floodlighting mast for HD broadcast in addition to a world-class drainage system and exclusive net-practice grounds. The stadium's south pavillion will also have a special VVIP and VIP zone, which will include corporate boxes and lounges with dining facilities.

The proposed international cricket stadium at Ganjari will have exterior design cues that allude to Kashi and its patron deity Vishwanath. With designs created for crescent-shaped roof covers, trident-shaped floodlights, ghat steps-based seats, and Bilvipatra-shaped metallic sheets on the front, Lord Shiva serves as the inspiration for the stadium's theme. The "essence of Kashi" will be seen in the cricket stadium's architecture.  

The stadium's dome serves as its focal point and was brilliantly designed to resemble Lord Shiva's famous "Damru,” the celestial drum, which represents the rhythm of creation and destruction. Varanasi's rich cultural legacy and its enduring ties to Lord Shiva are attested to by this architectural marvel.

The stadium's floodlights are among its standout characteristics. These luminous giants, which exude the blessings of Lord Shiva himself, are designed in the form of the heavenly Trishul (trident), unlike normal floodlights.

A bilva leaf, a sacred leaf generally used in Lord Shiva's devotion, is replicated in the entrance of the Varanasi Cricket Stadium, which has been constructed with precise attention to detail. With its elegant crescent moon design, the stadium's dome honors Lord Shiva's celestial adornment. The crescent moon that adorns Lord Shiva's matted hair is a representation of the passage of time as well as the cyclical nature of life.

The seating arrangement, meanwhile, aims to capture the tranquil atmosphere of the Ganga Ghats. Seating rows are artfully arranged to replicate the steps of the riverfront.

Catch a glimpse of the state-of-the-art International Cricket Stadium to be built in Varanasi!

PM @narendramodi laid the foundation stone of International Cricket Stadium in #Varanasi today.#VaranasiStadium #VaranasiCricketStadium #Kashi @PMOIndia @YASMinistry @ianuragthakur… pic.twitter.com/oErtiH655r

— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) September 23, 2023