Poker Features High in Diwali Festivities
Written by Roger S | Monday, October 19th, 2009
The traditional Indian celebration of Diwali has received a new twist with the introduction of poker games during this holiday period. Thanks to the increased exposure of poker to mainstream Indian culture through television programs, Facebook applications and films, young Indian city dwellers have decided to add their own form of fun to the more classic Diwali festivities, in the form of poker games.
According to the Calcutta Daily Telegraph, the sale of poker sets at stores such as Crossword have increased by 35-40% in the past week and the store manager said that extra stocks had to be ordered for Diwali.
In the rival Starmark store, sales have increased even more. “Lots of youngsters are playing it online, so the poker set has become a must-buy. Sales have soared five times in the run-up to Diwali,” says a store employee.
Poker fans hold poker parties in their homes over the holiday, essentially inviting a group of six or seven friends to make up the ultimate group of poker players.
A poker set is a must-have accessory in every up and coming Indian couple’s home, with stores stocking sets in all shapes and sizes with up to 300 chips.
In more cases than not, games are played for real money, with the minimum stake being Rs 500 ($10).
“It’s more fun to play with real money, however nominal the amount. Or else, anyone can bluff or borrow extra chips with nothing really to lose, and the game loses its edge,” said an Indian player.
Poker has recently enjoyed a massive surge of interest in Mumbai, with tournaments and events being held around the clock. High stake tournaments, that sometimes attract Bollywood stars and other celebs, are a big part of the landscape.
Delhi is another city where poker is on the rise and is considered popular both as a form of entertainment and a game that has enormous educational benefits.
“It’s a sport and a religion, it’s not reckless playing,” commented one poker fan.
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· Written by Roger S · Filed Under Poker News · Comments Off
