Ranchi residents take out a procession to mark Deepak’s victory. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Aug. 3: He wowed crowds and bagged enough votes to win Chak De Bachche, a reality show that climaxed on 9X last night after running for 18 weeks. Today, the city residents and friends from his village in Dibdih celebrated Deepak Tirkey’s win in style.

Ranchi Mahanagar Sarna Prarthana Sabha members took out a victory procession at Albert Ekka Chowk and danced to the tune of traditional music, smearing colour on each other.

Though Deepak’s thatched house was locked as his parents were in Mumbai, his grandparents — attired in their best outfits — greeted visitors with sweets right from the morning.

Talking to The Telegraph in local dialect, Deepak’s grandmother Mangari (55) said: “Pahuch gayle hamar pota. Kushi hain” (My grandson reached the top. I am happy).

Her elated husband, Bandhu Tirkey (65), said: “When Deepak was a small boy, I always used to scold him for getting involved in music and dance. But now I am going to lift my grandson and touch his feet.”

Deepak’s friends were equally excited.

Anil Minz, a student of Class VII of Lala Lajpat Rai School and Deepak’s classmate, said: “Mera dost bahut achha dance karta tha (My friend used to dance very well). He also used to sing very well but I had never thought he would reach such great heights.”

Deepak’s neighbour Asha Kujur, who was seen distributing sweets to celebrate the city lad’s victory, said: “Wo mukam ko hasil kiya hain jo hamlog kabhi soch nahi sakte (He reached the heights we never thought possible).”

Deepak’s friends Pratima Minz and Sumanti Kujur, too, seemed elated. “Deepak has become our idol. His victory has boosted our morale to participate in such events. But when we were very young, we were constantly fighting,” the duo said.

Satish Kumar, a friend of Deepak’s father and owner of a CD shop at Doranda, expressed his pride in the boy. “Whenever I used to visit his house, Deepak would ask for CDs and I always delivered him five to six CDs of new Hindi songs on a regular basis,” Satish said.

A grand welcome is on cards for Deepak.

“We will use the latest music and greet him to the beats of dhol and nagara,” said Deepak’s neighbour Suggi Kujur.

“Deepak will be returning in two days. We have planned a grand welcome,” said the Mahanagar Sarna Prarthana Sabha’s youth secretary Paras Lakra.