Potterheads celebrate Harry Potter's birthday with fanfare

Characters from author J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series came alive on Sunday on the occasion of its protagonist's birthday, widely celebrated on July 31.

Hosted by the Oxford Bookstore here, the birthday party saw fans dressed up as the characters of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Lord Voldemort, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, and Ron Weasley, among others.

"The event has brought together a family connected by a magical spell of witches and wizards," the Bookstore said in a statement.

"We were elated to see book lovers, young and old, each one a J.K. Rowling fan, so fiercely enthused and dressed head to toe in the costumes of their favourite character," it added.

The Harry Potter book series by Rowling -- later cinematically adapted into one of the highest-grossing movie series -- took the world by storm when it came out, with every new release becoming an event to be celebrated by the fans.

The first novel -- "Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone" -- was released in 1997.

The event also saw a theme-based quiz and awards for the best-dressed participants.

--IANS

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