Indian Potter fans cheer Hogwarts ruling
Indian fans of Harry Potter books welcomed Saturday a court verdict
that gave the go-ahead to organisers of a religious event to build a
life-size replica of the fictional Hogwarts Castle.
The Delhi High Court threw out on Friday a claim by author J.K.
Rowling that the giant structure constructed in the city of Kolkata
infringed copyright.
Organisers now have permission to keep the papier mache and bamboo
castle in place until Durga Puja, the biggest Hindu religious event in
eastern India, on October 26.
“The court has done the right thing. We have read about Hogwarts in
books and seen it in films and now we will finally get a chance to see
it,” said 19-year-old Sayona Mandal, who founded a Harry Potter fan club
in Kolkata. Organisers said they hoped to get a record turnout from the
publicity Rowling’s suit had generated.
“We think there will be a big turnout as the media has already
publicised our work,” said organising secretary Santunu Biswas.
Scores of school children visited the park over the weekend where the
elaborate structure was located.
The marquee replicates the castle contours and includes an imitation
marble staircase and flagged stone floor in the entrance hall, lit with
flaming torches.
AFP |