Rahul Dravid's 180 made a big impression

The packed galleries were threatening to break all noise pollution records, as India inched towards a dream victory.

The teeming metropolis of Calcutta, and indeed the entire country, stopped in its tracks and their emotions found an echo in the spectators, who lit flash-torches all around the venue to express their joyous sentiments.

Eden Gardens had once agan lived up to its reputation of never failing to amaze and ruffle overseas cricket teams.

The Aussie batsmen could be excused if they found it difficult to concentrate amidst the din generated by conch-shells, bells and the voices of excited spectators.

If the Indian spinners weren't causing enough problems, the side show in the galleries was sure to distract them.

Bengali cricket fans do not need an excuse to celebrate watching cricket - and seeing an Indian win take shape, they went beserk.

Steve Waugh and his team have to grin and bear it

Even the coolest Aussie would have begun sweating the moment he stepped out of the dressing room and into a playing area reverberating with noise.

An international cricket fixture involving the national team causes many Indians to report sick and little work would have been done by those who did turn up on Thursday.

Things came to�a standstill�in Calcutta.

Those unable to get into the stadium camped in front of television sets in offices, at homes, in restaurants and roadside vendor-stalls.

The city was abuzz with cricket talk as 'experts' held court all over the city, giving their opinion on every move by the Indian captain, his bowlers and Aussie batsmen to small captive audiences.

The firecrackers were bursting all around as celebrations spilled over into the streets at the end of the match.

The 'City of Joy' was truly happy this day.