53. Everyone in Hastinapuri is eager to see the princes in action

King Dhritarashtra summoned the pundits and the astrologers and asked them to determine an auspicious date for the grand event. They made a detailed study of movements of the planets  and then conferred and argued and at last settled on the precise day.  It would be a great, grand event and the feats of the Hastinapuri princes were likely to attract spectators from several parts of Bharat. Keeping in view these possibilities the King ordered for a large stadium to be constructed well in time. The architects gathered, high quality materials were brought in. With every passing day the stadium was taking little more shape. The old and the young and the children, the men, the women, all of them driven by immense curiosity, kept visiting the giant ‘structure’ that was taking shape. Gradually, the topics of discussion of the Hastinapuri citizens began to center round the impending event. People began to speculate about the skills, abilities and prowess of individual princes. As the ‘D’ day’ neared, the city was agog with speculations. For every one there was a favorite prince and there would be animated discussions amongst them with each one espousing the greatness of his own favorite. Notwithstanding these differences, which at times became emotionally charged, every one was sure of one thing – that the coming event was going to be a magnificent one.