Reminiscence: Harry Potter Week - 12-18 August, 2012

Image source: Internet

Goodbye...

In my mind I asked Harry Potter memories, "Will you stay with me?"
They unanimously replied, "Until the very end."

GOODBYE!!

Poster source: Internet

P.S. Strange things happen.

The Sri Krishna Connect

Having heard the stories of Sri Krishna as well as Ron had heard the 'Tales of Beedle and Bard', I can say that I am pretty well conversant with the basic life story of Sri Krishna.

Over the years, the more I delve deeper into the realms of the Harry Potter stories, the more likeness I find between the lives of Sri Krishna and Harry Potter. Extremely strangely so, but it seems truer the more I see it.

Both these heroes had problems synonymous to their names and since infancy they had had troubles. Both had faced what many many elders haven't or hadn't - DEATH... and that too, many a times. There had been prophecies intertwining the fates of these heroes and their biggest nemesis, long before they were old enough to understand it or, as in Sri Krishna's case, even before he was born.

Neither was brought up by his biological parents. The parents in both cases had to suffer at the hands of a tyrant who actually meant to harm their sons. Voldemort in case of Harry and Kansa in case of Sri Krishna. The most famous part of the lives of both our heros is when they worked and fought for the benefit of the good and to vanquish the bad. Friendship, was what both valued above other things. Just as Harry can be considered helpless and ineffective without Hermione and Ron, the Sri Krishna story lacks a significant portion without Sri Radha, the Gopikas and of course, Sri Sudama.

The biggest difference between the personalities is that Sri Krishna, being the almighty, did not suffer from all that ails the mortals.

It is time for a Goodbye

As we come to a close of the long, successful and happy Harry Potter week, as we lift ourselves over the thick beautiful clouds of the fantasy world, as we come out from the cupboard below the staircase, to face the real world once again, may this experience give us immense happiness to continue our lives. This week has been thoroughly enjoyable and the Hindi words go .. chirasmarneeya, avismarneeya. 

My heartfelt gratitude to all the little kids, members, zealous followers of Zealot Readers who contributed to make this event a grand one with over 65 blog posts and ounces of exuberance. 

Hoping that these fond memories stay with all of us for a long time to come...

Vaishali Sethi

:)

Points 2 Ponder

Diary: 31 July, 1991

Dear Diary,

Today is my eleventh birthday. We are not at Privet Drive but somewhere else, some place Uncle Vernon thought would be very safe and somewhere those letters addressed to me which somehow know where I am, shall not find me. 

There was a loud noise and the door broke open. It actually 'broke' open. A huge man, calling himself Hagrid entered. I met Hagrid for the first time and he told me something that the Dursleys never told me. I AM A WIZARD AND I CAN DO MAGIC. Now I will not study in that old silly muggle school with that Dudley boy, but rather at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am sure it is all true as that big man Hagrid magically gave Dudley a tail when he was eating my birthday cake. I would be studying magic. I am so happy. I am angry also. Neither Aunt Petunia or Uncle told me about all this. They also told me that mum and dad died in a car crash, but they were actually killed by magic. Hagrid told me all this. I am sure, I will soon come to know much more about my parents.

But now my life will change. I will go back to my world. My parents world. The happy world.

Harry

..............

By: Vidhi Sethi, 10 years

Sirius Black (character in Harry Potter series)

Points 2 Ponder

Points 2 Ponder

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Book Review by Vaishali Sethi:

"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” This is the opening line of not just this book but rather the welcome note to a whole new world. A truly ‘magical’ world. If one enters this, he/she cannot leave without a ‘scar’ or a ‘dark mark’ on the heart (both in the positive).

The book opens with strange things happening in London, strange people celebrating and a couple of quaint looking men along with a lady who could transform into a cat, leaving a baby on somebody’s doorstep.

As the baby, named Harry Potter, grows up amidst atrocities by his aunt and her little family (the Dursley's), numerous strange events keep happening around him. He can turn his teacher’s wig blue, talk to snakes and so on, until one day, a half giant, Hagrid turns up to tell Harry that he is actually a wizard and that he must attend the school for magical education. Harry is also told about his past, something which the Dursley’s had always kept quiet about.

As Harry begins school, a whole new world lies ahead. Harry and the readers alike discover new friends, new foes and most appropriately new challenges. He discovers that he is immensely famous as he is the only one who has ever survived the killing curse, that too at the age of 1.

He along with his classmates and friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger accidently discover a 12 foot mountain troll in one of the forbidden areas of the school and thus set out to unearth the mystery behind it. Troubles await them, but they are brave.

They get into deeper trouble. Hermione with her superb magical skills, Ron with his prowess at magical chess, and Harry with his wit and instincts are able to reach the crux of the mystery when meets Lord Voldemort, the evil one who killed his (Harry’s) parents and in attempting to kill him had given him a scar instead and somehow lost his own body. Do read the wonderful book to find out what happened next?

This book makes the base for all further Harry Potter books. Most of the character introduced here move up to the next books. Here Harry actually comes out of his cupboard and embraces a whole new world, his world. His companionships with Ron, Hermione, Neville and so on, which find their buds here, shall go on to become some of the best known flowers in the world of literature.

The best aspect about the book is the innocence in the writing style and also the characters. Even little children are able to read, understand and enjoy the book. The mesmerizing, powerful and gripping storyline makes sure that there can hardly be any criticism of the book.

When I first read this book, I was sad that it only had six more parts to it. I am sure, even if it has 60 sequels, we could do with more. A most definite must read for one and all. Enjoy!! 

Points 2 Ponder

HARRY POTTER WEEK BEGINS

AS PROMISED, WE BRING TO YOU THE HARRY POTTER WEEK, STARTING TODAY!!

KEEP CHECKING OUT THIS SPACE FOR SOME OF THE BEST FANTASY MOMENTS OF YOUR LIVES!!

Image Courtesy : Indiebound

100

100 is a BIG number.

100 is a lucky number.

100 is an amazing number.

Behold! This is Zealot Readers' 100 blog post!!!

And to mark this special milestone, we plan to celebrate the HARRY POTTER week this August. 

Here we plan to pick up one book of the Harry Potter series each day and try to decode the magic that lies within!

We would appreciate if you could join us and help make this event a grand success. Inviting one and all to send their views, reviews, poems, articles, sketches and anything creative and related to the Harry Potter series @ readers.zealot@gmail.com .

Your entries would be posted here on the blog and on our facebook page: here .

:)