Jyotsna Basotia Potterheads, dust off your robes and polish those wands. Every July 31, Harry Potter and his creator, J K Rowling, celebrate birthdays together. This year, the occasion carries even more magic, as 2026 marks 25 years since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone first arrived on the big screen. Platform 9¾ may not be in Bengaluru, but the city has found plenty of ways to keep the wizarding world alive. From butterbeer-inspired menus and wizard-themed cafés to trivia nights, book discussions and movie marathons, Potterheads are celebrating the Boy Who Lived with as much enthusiasm as ever.Marking 25 years with a Potter marathonThis year’s celebrations go beyond nostalgia. To mark the 25th anniversary of the first film, all eight Harry Potter movies return to theatres worldwide from August 27 to September 3. A special screening of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone will also include 12 minutes of unseen footage, giving fans another reason to revisit the series.Where Bengaluru celebrates the magicThe city’s cafés, bars and event organisers are leaning into the anniversary. The Studs hosts a Harry Potter quiz on July 31, with questions drawn from both the books and films. “You just need to register in advance, and we’d recommend reserving your table early. There’s a surprise prize for the winners,” says supervisor Kuku Himb. Partyvorous, meanwhile, is hosting its Harry Potter Trivia Noon at Watsons, Indiranagar. According to organiser Gaurav Mehta, the demand has been overwhelming. “The 50 seats for August 1 and 2 sold out so quickly that we’ve opened two parallel sessions. Along with the trivia, we’ve created a themed drinks menu featuring butterbeer, a colour-changing magic potion with sparkles and a darker drink inspired by Lord Voldemort. Guests can also choose wands inspired by Harry, Hermione, Snape, Dumbledore and Voldemort, while winners take home a Harry Potter-themed backpack,” he says.“Harry Potter sales never really slow down,” says Mukund Gowda from Blossom Book House, adding, “Every year brings a new format—sometimes a picture book or a graphic novel edition—and young readers flock in daily to pick up fresh copies.”A fandom that never fadedContent creator Shivangi Shrivastava already has her plans sorted: a “Happee Birthdae Harry” T-shirt, and she is set for a movie marathon. “If I had to pick just one, it would be Deathly Hallows – Part 2. I love the way they portrayed Snape. Every time Dumbledore asks, ‘After all this time?’ and Snape replies, ‘Always,’ I still end up crying,” she says. Shweta Basotia, a creative writer, who is currently reading The Goblet of Fire, says, “July 31 always calls for a little ritual. I’d love an all-day movie marathon with plenty of chocolate desserts — purely for Dementor prevention, of course. Then I’d probably grab my wand, head to The Souled Store for some merch and end the day in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending that I don’t exist,” she says.For many fans, the journey began not at Hogwarts, but in the cupboard under the stairs at Number Four, Privet Drive. “My Harry Potter story began when I was eight. For a long time, everyone I met seemed to carry a little of Draco Malfoy, Dumbledore or some other character from the story,” recalls Maitreya Nair, who works in advertising. He even played Harry Potter in a school skit that recreated Voldemort’s resurrection during the Triwizard Tournament. For HR professional Mridula Raghotham, however, the heart of the story lies elsewhere. She says, “My heart belongs to Buckbeak and Hermione.” To celebrate the day, Mridula has homemade plan: brew butterbeer, rewatch the films with friends, then round off the night with trivia. She adds, “Or maybe, I’d attend a Harry Potter pub quiz.”Sumukha Ashok, a creative manager at an advertising company, tells us, “My favourite character is Ron Weasley. I think he’s the most underrated member of the trio.” This weekend, he is keeping the celebrations simple: “A friend recently picked up Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans for the occasion and I can’t wait to try them.”
