The entrance to the club looked like a scene straight out of a Quidditch match in the Harry Potter movies.
THE MOOD
The Bengal Rowing Club transformed itself into the magical world of everybody’s favourite wizard — Harry Potter — for its Christmas carnival. Dubbed ‘Abracadabra’ in association with t2, the carnival gave the kids (and some not-so-old adults) a chance to indulge their fantasies of turning into wizards for a day.
Along with the regular Christmas decorations, the club was also decked up with life-size figures to represent Hogwarts Express, gargoyle figurines, Ollivanders (the wand shop) and more. The highlight of the carnival? The decorations representing different themes from the Harry Potter series. They covered the entire expanse of the lawns and even the first floor of the club. Also put up on the lawns were joyrides like the Flying Saucer and other popular carnival games.
THE MUNCH
Candyfloss was a hot favourite.
Popular club favourites were up for grabs. Paneer Kathi Rolls, pastas, dosas, Hakka Chowmein and more. If it’s a carnival, there has to be dessert! And sweet treats like doughnuts, cake pops, chocolate mousse... were set up to be gobbled down by the hungry wizards, as well as their parents. But the ones that drew the longest queues were carnival favourites candy floss and chuski.
THE STYLE
“I loved the zipline... and the chuski!” said
11-year-old Varun Baid.
Casuals and comfort wear was the attire for the kids at the carnival, so that they could climb the ‘wall’ to reach the zipline, play in the Battle Ball Arena, and try out the other adventure sports. We love how Natasha Sethia (right) rocked the sporty-cool look. “I thought the zipline was really cool and the (Harry Potter) theme was really nice,” smiled the 13-year-old from Modern High School, who picked up her purple Converse (with fluorescent laces!) from London.
CLUB SPEAK
“We just renovated the club to make it look contemporary and so we wanted a contemporary theme for the Christmas carnival. A theme that everyone from three-year-olds to adults could identify with. And so, we chose Harry Potter. A lot went into the decor of the carnival this time and members told me that it was very innovative and great. I am the youngest president of the club in 30 years and I wanted to have a theme for the youngsters, to reflect that,” said Hemant Bangur, president, posing in front of the mock Hogwarts Express.
Young wizards (and old) could buy their own wizard hats, and get their names written on it too! Seven-year old Vihaan Bhagat loved his wizarding hat and though that “the game stalls were the best!”
George Kuruvilla, general manager of The Oberoi Grand, was at the carnival with his family. “The Battle Ball Arena was very challenging for nine-year-old Zara and 11-year-old Neel and it was one of the best activities at the carnival,” smiled mom Ritu George.
Team t2’s score-board gives him 10/10 for channeling Harry Potter!
Text: Neha Banka
Pictures: Arnab Mondal
