Qatar Flag Colors Proudly Glow in India

For a house in Kerala during the FIFA World Cup, maroon and white are an unexpected color scheme. However, one house in this region of South India stands out because it is painted in Qatar's flag colors.

His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as Hassan Al Haydos, the captain of the Qatari national football team, and La'eeb, the official mascot of Qatar 2022, are prominently displayed on the building's façade.

The one-story home is in the Thrissur district of Kerala, in the lovely village of Enamakkal, which is situated on the shores of a freshwater lake of the same name. A strange fusion of football fervor and Qatari devotion that permeates this community can be seen in many different ways, including the paintwork.

Villagers say that 600 out of the approximate 2,000 residents, or at least one adult from almost every household, are employed in Qatar. And football is rooted in the locals' blood, just like it is in every Keralan town. This World Cup is therefore twice as special for them.

Maroon and white can be found everywhere in the hamlet, including on t-shirts, flags, boats, and even the scarves that ladies wear around their necks.

The official start of the World Cup celebrations in Enamakkal was made on Sunday with the grand opening of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Al Bayt Stadium. K Rajan, the minister of revenue and housing for Kerala and a member of parliament for the Thrissur district, inaugurated it.

After the inauguration, a parade attracted a large crowd. A big screen has been set up by the village council so that attendees may watch World Cup games live as part of the celebrations.

According to Rasheed Khalid, the head of a citizens' group in the area, the community has ties to Qatar that date back more than three generations.

"Because many of the younger generations were born and raised in Qatar, they likely know more about the country than our hamlet does. Therefore, it makes sense that we have a great connection to the World Cup that is being held here and that we want our family members back home to join in the celebrations", he stated in Doha when asked about the motivation behind the World Cup celebration in Enamakkal.

He added: "We have significant plans in place for everyone to watch and enjoy the World Cup in the town".