Chennai, Jan 21 (UNI) Left arm fast bowler Thangarasu
Natarajan, who was part of the triumphant Indian team
that recorded a historic 2-1 win over Australia, was
accorded a hero's reception in Salem district, even as
health department officials asked him to get quarantined
since he returned from abroad.
Soon after he arrived at his native hither to nondescript
Chinnappampatti village in his native Salem district of
Tamil Nadu, Natarajan, who became the first Indian to
make his debut in all the three formats in the same
series was accorded a rousing reception by the villagers.
It was celebration time at Chinnappampatti, which has now
garnerned international attention, thanks to Natarajan's
exploits in the series Down Under.
The entire village wore a festive look in view of the arrival
of Natarajan, who was seen wearing face masks and hand
gloves.
He was greeted by tens and hundreds of people and was
garlanded by the officials.
He was escorted to his residence in a procession in a
tastefully decorated horse-mounted chariot.
Even people from neighbouring districts thronged the
village to greet him.
Locals welcomed him with folk dances, beating of drums
and bursting of crackers and presented him with bouquets.
Natarajan responded to the people's reception and greetings
by showing thumbs up sign and with folded hands.
Scores of people took photographs in their mobile phones.
Though the villagers have erected make shift dias all
along the route till his residence to receive greetings
from the people, the health officials have asked them
to remove it citing the COVID pandemic.
Health and district officials also visited his house and
asked him to undergo the mandatory 14 day home
quarantine as he came from abroad.
The cricketer was also asked not to meet any people during
the quarantine period, though he underwent corona tests
in Australia before leaving for India.
UNI GV 1723