By Shreshta Paul

Bhubaneswar: Halloween may have passed, but its spirit found a lively expression in Bhubaneswar, where a group of 20 youngsters came together for an evening of spooky costumes, cinema, games and community bonding. Hosted at Karma Calling, DLF Cyber City, the gathering blended the traditional Halloween theme with a pop-culture twist through a Bollywood Trivia Party.

With mini ghosts, voodoo dolls and spooky figurines setting the mood, the celebration brought together enthusiasts dressed as familiar characters from films and popular culture. The hosts kept the surprise elements under wraps until the final hours, building anticipation for an evening packed with quirky activities, interactive games and unexpected appearances.

For Swadheeka Pradhan, a third-year MSc Biotechnology student at SOA University and one of the primary hosts, Halloween was about more than costumes and celebrations. She wanted to create a space where people with similar interests could connect while embracing the idea of spirits and energies, both good and bad.

"I wanted to bring a sense of familiarity with the fact that there are good and bad ghosts, and with that, I wanted to build a sense of community that felt the same as me," she said.

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The venue reflected the theme through handcrafted mini ghosts, hanging voodoo dolls and spooky figurines. However, it was the cinematic characters that added a distinctive flavour to the evening. Arnav, one of the hosts, appeared as Baba from Bhool Bhulaiyaa, while Viswas, a member of the Katha & Kaudi community, portrayed Tillu Baba, drawing attention with his striking appearance.

Another host, a final-year BTech Computer Science and Engineering student who preferred not to be named, picked Tillu Baba as his favourite costume. He also recalled Baba's character and Red Devil, portrayed by Miss Jewa, as among the memorable appearances of the night.

The creativity of the participants exceeded the hosts' expectations. From Joker and she-devil to Manjulika and zombie, the costumes brought an eclectic mix of horror and entertainment to the gathering.

"The acts which really stayed with me were of a Joker, a she-devil, Manjulika and a Zombie. We had never seen that before," Swadheeka said.

The evening began with board games before moving to interactive activities such as Trick or Treat, Mafia and traditional icebreakers. The carefully planned 'boo games' kept the participants engaged, turning the gathering into an evening of shared experiences rather than a conventional party.

Halloween, observed annually on October 31, traces its origins to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the transition from harvest season to winter. The occasion was traditionally associated with the belief that the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, prompting people to light bonfires and wear disguises.

Over the years, the festival has evolved into a global pop-culture celebration of costumes, spooky decorations, games and community gatherings. In Bhubaneswar, this Bollywood-inspired evening offered a youthful interpretation of the occasion, bringing together cinema, creativity and camaraderie.