As World Cup fever rises, Kerala’s Qatar village cheers ‘land that feeds’
The World Cup being hosted by Qatar has presented the people of the village with an opportunity to show their gratitude to the country that they credit with helping them prosper. Updated: December 4, 2022 7:20:37 am

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HomeIndiaKeralaAs World Cup fever rises, Kerala’s Qatar village cheers ‘land that feeds’
As World Cup fever rises, Kerala’s Qatar village cheers ‘land that feeds’
The World Cup being hosted by Qatar has presented the people of the village with an opportunity to show their gratitude to the country that they credit with helping them prosper.
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Written by Narayanan S
Updated: December 4, 2022 7:20:37 am

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An enlarged replica of the World Cup ball floats in the Enamakkal lake in Kettungal village. (Special arrangement)

Kerala’s love for football, especially the football World Cup, is well documented. While cutouts of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo lining the streets, sometimes even rivers, are no longer a novelty in this part of the world, a small village in Thrissur district has stood out by erecting hoardings honouring the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, along with those of star footballers.

Kettungal, around 20 km from Thrissur town, on the banks of the Enamakkal lake, is known as the ‘Qatar village’. Local residents say that at least one person from nearly every household in the village works in Qatar — more than 350 people from Kettungal live in the Gulf nation.