From Mohali to Mumbai frenzied celebrations erupted across the country on Wednesday as Team India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan to enter the cricket World Cup final, with people bursting firecrackers, distributing sweets and dancing in the streets waving the tricolour.

As soon as Misbah-ul-Haq’s shot landed in the safe hands of Virat Kohli at long-on to signal the end of Pakistan innings, ecstatic fans, who had been glued to TV sets since afternoon, spilled into the roads, greeting each other, honking cars and dancing to the beats of drums, choking key street intersections and main thoroughfares.

A festive atmosphere prevailed in Mumbai, which will host the final clash with Sri Lanka on Saturday, as also other parts of the country.

Cricket fans piled on jeeps and other vehicles, waving the national flag and shouted slogans cheering India and favourite players.

It was Diwali once again in Ranchi, the hometown of Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, as hundreds of fans assembled in front of his house, set off firecrackers and distributed sweets.

In Delhi, people turned up in large numbers at the iconic India Gate for impromptu celebrations, causing massive traffic jam.

Euphoric scenes were also seen at Behala locality in south Kolkata, where former India skipper Sourav Ganguly resides.

Those watching the match on the streets on giant screens, hugged each other and danced to the tune of ‘Chakde! India’ and other Bollywood hit numbers.

At the start of the match in the afternoon, the streets wore a deserted look, for a change on a working day.

The roads in Chandigarh and other cities were crowded with people driving cars and riding motorcycles celebrating the win.

The night sky was lit up with fireworks as Pakistan lost their ninth wicket in Umar Gul who was held leg before by pacer Ashish Nehra.

Similar joyous scenes were witness in the national capital and other cities of this cricket-crazy country.

The entire stadium in Mohali broke into a thunderous applause, with Congress President Sonia and her son Rahul cheering the team, as the last Pakistani wicket fell.

Congratulatory messages poured in from chief ministers of various states for the victorious team.