Founder-Chairperson Ipsita Roy Chakraverti opened the evening by speaking about this time of year when cultures across the world celebrate the meeting of two dimensions — a moment when the veil lifts and the worlds of the living and the dead become one.

Anjan Dutt shares his experiences with the supernatural. Photo: Organisers

At the fest, in a session titled “My Hills and the Spirits,” Anjan Dutt shared his experiences with the supernatural in the hills of North Bengal.

The panel of filmmakers and actors discussed “Ghosts Before the Camera,” recounting their paranormal encounters during film shoots. Photo: Organisers

A panel comprising Avijit Banerjee (filmmaker), Indranil Ghosh (filmmaker), and Anindyo Sarkar (actor and filmmaker) discussed “Ghosts Before the Camera,” recounting their paranormal encounters during film shoots. The session was moderated by Subhadip Basu, founder-podcaster of Talkathon with Subhadip.

Another panel featuring Mimi Das (social activist and podcaster), Debayan Kar, and Aaryan Das explored “Haunted Travels,” sharing stories of ghosts and hauntings during their journeys to Simlipal and beyond. This discussion was moderated by Saumyapriya Bose and Subhadeep Bhattacharya.

Photos: Organisers

Fashion designer and pageant coach Indroneel Mukherjee added to the evening’s atmosphere with his dramatic appearance as the “Watcher of the Night.”

Devjani Kumar, Chanda Dutt, and Anulekha Mukherjee modelled Wiccan garb complete with pointed hats, capes, brooms, and cauldrons.

Photos: Organisers

A haunting highlight of the evening was a performance by the mother-daughter duo Ipsita and Deepta Roy Chakraverti, who enacted a long-forgotten true tale from the British Isles — “The Ghost Bride.”

Photos: Organisers

The event concluded with a healing prayer to Asclepius, the ancient Greek and Roman god of medicine, led by Ipsita Roy Chakraverti. The evening was moderated by Souvik Das.