On the holy occasion of Bengali New Year (15 April 2026/1 Boishakh 1433), I got the wonderful opportunity to visit the tent of the oldest active football club of India and Asia, as well as one of the oldest active football clubs in the world - the Mohun Bagan Athletic Club in Kolkata. Founded on 15 August 1889, Mohun Bagan is not just a football club, but a cornerstone of Indian history based in Kolkata. Known as the 'National Club of India' and the 'Mariners' with its renowned emblem of a sailing ferryboat, Mohun Bagan is even older than renowned European teams like Barcelona, Manchester City, and Chelsea. 💚❤️

On July 29, 1911, Mohun Bagan became the first Indian team to win the prestigious IFA Shield, defeating the British East Yorkshire Regiment 2–1. Remarkably, most of the Mohun Bagan players played the final barefoot, while their opponents wore proper boots. This 1911 win was seen as a victory against the British Raj, with The Englishman publication writing: "What the Congress failed to achieve, Mohun Bagan has". It significantly boosted the Indian freedom struggle. During this final, thousands of fans couldn't fit into the stadium. Volunteers flew kites in the club's maroon and green colors to signal the goals to the massive crowd outside. July 29 is celebrated annually as 'Mohun Bagan Day' to honor the historic 1911 victory.

Since the formation of India’s top-tier National Football League in 1996 (now ISL - Indian Super League), Mohun Bagan has never been relegated. The club has won over 5,000 matches in its history, which is the highest for any Indian club. In 2019, during its 130th year, the club was inducted into the 'Club of Pioneers', a global network of the oldest existing football clubs.

Currently, the club operates as Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the ISL, having maintained its status as a top-flight champion in the 2024-25 season.

The club tent for Mohun Bagan is located at Kolkata Maidan, opposite to the Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium. The club has its own stadium, library, modern toilet, administrative rooms, canteen, parking, floodlights, recreational ground and many other facilities. The morning of Bengali New Year (Noboborsho) is special for this football club, as the crossbars of the goalposts in the stadium is worshiped with prayers for a good football season which symbolically begins on this very day itself. Called Bar-Puja, the club is open for public visit on this very morning, once every year hence.

(All images are shot and edited on the VIVO X200 base variant)