Thaindian News

Mumbai, Sep 28 (IANS) Taking advantage of the auspicious occasion of the first day of the Navratri festival, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar finally moved into his swank new ‘dream home’ in Bandra west here Wednesday afternoon.

The five-storeyed bungalow is at 19-A, Perry Cross Road, a coveted address in the queen of the suburbs (Bandra), where Sachin, along with his family, entered in a traditional ‘griha-pravesh’ ceremony.

A battery of media-persons clicked away furiously as Sachin, clad in a simple striped T-shirt and trousers, took his first formal step into the bungalow with a glow of happiness on his face.

“I am really thrilled and happy today, especially for my mother and my family members,” gushed Sachin on the occasion.

His family members, mother, wife and children also followed suit and then everybody started admiring the cricket maestro’s ‘Dream Home’ in every nook and corner.

Sachin spent his early childhood in Sahitya Sahawas Colony, Bandra east, and later honed his batting skills in the famous Shivaji Park grounds when he lived in Dadar.

After scouting around all over Mumbai, he had zeroed in on and purchased the Bandra west property to construct his ‘dream home’ a few years ago at a whopping Rs.39 crore. He got it rebuilt from scratch and finally moved in there Wednesday.

According to eyewitnesses at the ‘griha-pravesh,’ the bungalow includes two levels of basement parking with a capacity of more than four dozen vehicles.

One of the floors will be dedicated only to storing and displaying the hundreds of medals, cups, honours and citations that the batsman has received during his two-decades-plus glorious cricket career.

Local cricket fans had put up a special banner welcoming the distinguished new guest to the quiet neighbourhood and many people waited for a glimpse of their favourite cricket star.

A couple of years ago, Sachin had sought easing of certain norms to enable him construct a private gymnasium in his bungalow, but it was rejected by the authorities.