National Song Vande Mataram was played for the first time at an international sporting event just before India’s opening T20 International against Afghanistan in New Delhi on Sunday.
Penned by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Vande Mataram was played after the national anthem Jana Gana Mana at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. As per the Union Home Ministry’s directive, the complete six-stanza version of the national song was played.