‘P-Day’ is only fours days away, and Pottermania is set to scale new heights. JK Rowling’s series finalé,
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, is out in bookshops on Saturday and, in tune with the global trend, most major Delhi stores plan to open shutters in the early hours that
day.
A wee-hour opening isn’t entirely new — a couple of stores in Delhi did open shop early on July 16, 2005 when Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince released. What’s unique this time is the early-hour bonhomie that all stores promise.
Prashant, store manager, Om Bookshop, Noida, says, “We have had over 3,000 advance bookings across our six outlets in Delhi and NCR, and expect at least 1,000 fans coming in on Saturday morning.” They plan to open as early as 4 a.m. and organise Potter games and quizzes in their stores right from that hour.
Priyanka Malhotra, owner, Full Circle bookstores, says, “We have been receiving queries on The Deathly Hallows since April.” Full Circle’s outlets at GK-1 and Khan Market will open by 7 a.m. with a ‘Dawn Party’ where refreshments will be served, and quizzes will be hosted. The Book Shop at Jangpura and Oxford Bookstore at Connaught Place will open by 6 a.m.
KD Singh, owner of The Book Shop, explains the spurt in Pottermania: “Harry Potter is a worldwide phenomenon, with fans everywhere waking up early to grab a copy. Fans in India are no different.”