Chandigarh, March 28 (IANS) Providing a literal display of the statement that cricket is a religion in India, fans all over the city are organising prayer sessions, havans and other religious rituals to propitiate the gods ahead of the World Cup semi-final clash against Pakistan Wednesday.

Chandigarh-based Gurukul Vidyapeeth education society Monday organised a havan yagya at Sanatan Dharam temple here at Sector 23 and prayed for the Indian team's victory.

"We have made 11 different havan yagya kunds for the playing eleven. Our students wore masks and dress of the team India during the ceremony," said Manmohan K. Garg, chief executive officer of Gurukul Vidyapeeth.

Students were also carrying placards and banners that read 'One billion heart one wish', 'India is the best from all the rest', 'Come on India dikha do dum', 'Punjab de sher dhikha de jor', 'Punjab de sher chak de phatte' and '11 mein 1 billion ka dum, Cup layenge hum".

A Punjab-based youth club here is also organising a religious ceremony to ensure lady luck is on the side of the 'Men in Blue'.

"We will organise a grand religious ceremony for the Indian team. We will also install big screens in our locality and all club members will come with their families to watch the match together," president of Zirakpur Youth Club, Nishant Jain, told IANS.

Puneet Bhalla, a young entrepreneur here, said: "A special ardaas (worship) will be done at my home for the Indian team on the match day. We want them to beat Pakistan at any cost."

India and Pakistan will play the crucial semi-final match, under floodlights, Wednesday at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Mohali, some 10 km from here.