Harry Potter Fest Day 1: Mischief Managed
The much-awaited Harry Potter Fest finally kicked off in BracU today. What started as a simple Facebook post transformed into a whole three-day celebration. The day’s first event was the Sorting Hat Ceremony, where Dr. David Dowland (Registrar, BracU), to everyone’s sweet surprise, was sorted into Gryffindor. He recalled, “I am glad to see the hype fuelling this fantastic event. And what better place to promote environmental sustainability than our new campus?”
The next event that followed was the Quidditch games that required participants to delve into their wildest imaginations. The first game took place between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, and after the scores were neck-and-neck, Gryffindor emerged as victors. Thus, ended one of the three magical celebrations that saw the merging of the wizarding world and our very own BracU.
The venue was adorned with small business booths of the university students and faculty featuring Harry Potter-themed paraphernalia. The stalls featured food and beverages inspired by the franchise, including many merchandise items! The venue was visited by enthusiastic potterheads, students, and even a few faculty members draped in the robes of their Hogwarts houses.
Farhan Feroz (Lecturer, CSE) enjoyed himself with the students. He remarked, “I don’t differentiate between students and faculty here; we are all fans of the Harry Potter books and movies.”
Shimran Lazin (CSE, 3rd year) shares her wholesome experience: “I had a lab class today, but surprisingly, my faculty was also a Potterhead! So, he let us leave early to enjoy ourselves.”
Shad Nur Mim Bidhu (Senior, CSE), owner of Peculiarts by Bidhu, expressed her enthusiasm by stating, “I can see how good the response is for this festival since so many people are visiting my booth and the other business owners as well.”
The first day of celebrations at BracU ended with a magical cultural show. From Coldplay to Meghdol, Adele to Pink Floyd, the performers enchanted the audience with their soulful renditions. Hamimiul Islam’s hauntingly beautiful cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” left the crowd in awe, while Andalib Mostofa Lalon cast his spell as the guitarist for the entire segment. Captivating dance performances by Arora Paul, Faiza Rahman, Yeashfa Haque, and Ibtedat Fatin mesmerized the audience.
Yet, the highlight of the day was the magical ballroom dance, during which the witches and wizards of BracU felt enchanted by the spirit of Hogwarts.
