K-Event Review: Rise with BTS Fan-Event in Kolkata

Aqsa Zea and Samiya Parvez, Kolkata, West Bengal

As December approaches, with the year-end, ARMYs around the world get excited to celebrate the birthdays of the globally adored Kim Seok-jin, known as World Wide Handsome, and the universally acknowledged Most Handsome Man, Kim Tae-hyung. Each of the BTS members has been the ultimate source of inspiration, courage, and happiness; making their birthdays a momentous occasion for ARMYs globally. In various corners of India, events and festivities take place in December to honor the handsome and charismatic duo, affectionately referred to as TaeJin by ARMYs.

Among these celebrations, we spotlight an impactful event held in Kolkata named “Rise with BTS,” sponsored by Livefly Healthcare, a home-healthcare service provider. Planned, organised, and managed by Let’s Rise Again (A BTS fanbase in Kolkata), the event took place at Sujata Devi Smriti Sadan, Kolkata on December 30, 2023, from 10 am to 4 pm. Notably, the event stood out due to its featured play-drama, “Love Myself” by United. Just as BTS has always encouraged us to be true to ourselves and love ourselves first then we can be and do anything that we wish to be; this play held the perfect message of breaking stereotypes and believing in oneself which can only help one grow to be a confident and successful person who can achieve their dreams with a more positive mindset.

Echoing BTS’s encouragement to embrace authenticity and self-love, the play emphasized the transformative impact of these principles on personal growth. The event, spearheaded by Let’s Rise Again, provided a meaningful space for ARMYs to celebrate, reflect, and embrace the transformative message of self-love and authenticity shared by BTS. This year’s birthday celebrations hold added significance as BTS members, despite serving in the military for their nation, as they continue to excel in their legacy.

Purpose of the Event

Let’s Rise Again, an energetic group of BTS Army from Kolkata recently orchestrated a vibrant celebration for BTS V and BTS Jin’s birthdays. Commemorating BTS’s journey post-enlistment, the event featured dynamic performances—dance, singing, skits—making it a thrilling day for K-pop enthusiasts. Interactive games, a delectable lunch, and a heartfelt cake-cutting ceremony elevated the joy, making it one of Kolkata’s most exciting K-pop gatherings.

Event Activities

The event kicked off with the 10-year journey of how BTS rose into stardom, the struggle, sacrifice, and hard work that they put in. Our hosts for the day Tamojit and Titli made the audience feel like a part of one big family that is ARMY of all ages came together and had a great time. Among some outstanding singing and dance performances, ARMY got the chance to prove their dedication with Guess the Song, where a 10-second clip of random BTS songs played and the audience had to guess the name of the song. The winner of each of the correct songs was rewarded with various BTS merchandise. ARMY had a blast with everyone wanting to answer as much as they could. The songs and drama performances were followed by a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate TaeJin’s birthday.

The enthusiasm and love could be felt radiating all over the venue as Purple filled the hearts and the air. A whopping number of ARMYs showed up which turned the event into a great success. Our amazing organizers and hosts turned DJ and let the audience shake their legs to BTS songs- old and new. The audience just couldn’t get enough and were not ready to stop, but we had to move ahead with the performances. Let’s Rise again hosted an online contest and the winner would receive the Official Weverse Proof Album. Our enthusiastic contestant Ritika was the undisputed champion with active and unmatchable participation. There were multiple unofficial BTS merch stalls – Merch Maniacs, Zero O’ Clock, etc. which attracted the audience and they rushed towards the stalls grabbing their hands on all the amazing photocards, bracelets, study kids, and posters as fast as they could. The event concluded with the Fanchant from our enthusiastic ARMY and it felt no less than a concert.

Event Performances

Several exceptionally talented singers, including Anushka, Anoushka, Abel, and Jeetsoma, captivated our hearts with their melodious voices spanning various genres. On a different note, dance groups such as Shuv & Adarsh, Enigma Infinite, The Moon Walkers, and Let’s Rise Again elevated their energy levels with outstanding performances. An inspirational skit emphasized BTS’s influence on self-love, while the skillful flute player Sarmistha showcased the versatility of music, proving that it transcends instrument boundaries.

Event Organiser’s Experience

Ms. Sonia Mujherjee: Honestly it was my first time hosting and managing an event. Actually, I thought it would be easy to manage an event but it’s not. It takes a lot of effort and hard work to manage an event. We made a rough sketch of how to sell all the tickets or find a perfect hall for our event based on the sitting capacity. Tamojit da helped us a lot. I think without him it would not be possible to arrange such a big event. With his help, we came to a proper plan. We made posters, banners, and leaflets. It was like putting together a big puzzle. Planning and getting everything just right was a bit tricky. Every day was challenging for us. Every single day we faced a new problem but it all worked out. One of the best parts was when I saw the smile on everyone’s face and that time I realized it was a success for us. Even though BTS members are in the military but the magic, the power, and the strength they gave us are incredible. Looking ahead, I want to plan more cool events. Maybe different themes or just something new and exciting. It’s been a great journey, and I can’t wait for more adventures in event planning!

Ms. Deblina: Hello, I am Debalina, admin of LRA. It was a fun & enjoyable time while preparing the event “Rise With BTS” for our fellow Armys. There was joy and many moments to look after during the process of making the behind-the-scenes of the event as well as fights and stubbornness of the admins with the activities to share but that too couldn’t make us the admins stop the love for our 7boys & hence the rise of “Rise With BTS.” I experienced what behind-the-curtain work is, what compromising is & what sharing memorable moments with the people who are with us on the same page. I am still thrilled to have the opportunity to organize this wonderful event where all of us were able to give fifty-fifty in with our love, enjoyment, and a lot of happiness.

Ms. Pratyusha: Diving into my first gig as an event host and manager was a wild ride of discovery. At the get-go, I figured it would be a cakewalk, but boy, was I wrong! It turned out, that pulling off a killer event demands serious hustle and grind. We kicked things off with a rough game plan, figuring out how to hustle those tickets and lock in a dope venue with enough seats for the squad. Next came the real puzzle-solving part – drafting sleek posters, hyped-up banners, and fly leaflets. It was like putting together the pieces of a massive, cool puzzle. Getting all the details just right? Yeah, that part was tricky. Seeing everyone’s faces light up in pure joy. Looking forward, I’m all about curating more lit events, exploring different vibes, and diving into fresh, exciting challenges. This journey’s been a vibe, and I’m stoked for the next wave of adventures in the event game! At the end, I would like to thank Tamojit Da for helping us in every step. Without him, this event wouldn’t be a great success!!”

Ms. Subhechha: Hello! It’s Admin Subheccha. In December 2023, LRA arranged a grand event Rise with BTS to tribute to our 7 boys, Bangtan. It was so enjoyable to do every event work, it was also a little bit hard because it was the very first time for me. Firstly it was very challenging for me and also for other admin to sell all the tickets. I had to talk to a lot of people, it was also very challenging for me. New people, playing games with them, talking to them, and bringing more new people to the event, it was also challenging but at least we can say we did it. And the most special thing was the performances, so to watch them perform in front was amazing, and it was fun.

Overall Fans’ Experience

“Rise with BTS” was one-of-a-kind event with some unique performances like the Flute cover of Euphoria that left us mesmerized. Apart from the organisers doing an excellent job of executing the event flawlessly, our hosts left no stone unturned to keep the audience involved with fan chants, sing-alongs, or dances. From the Dance battles to the play which made us sad, cry, and laugh in every passing second, the message of ‘Love Myself’ and having the courage to believe in oneself to achieve bigger dreams stuck with us and gave inspirations to a lot of ARMYs who attended the event.

Overall, attending ‘Rise with BTS’ was truly an overwhelming experience. The genuine passion and affection displayed by the incredibly talented organizers resonated with the essence of BTS’s ‘Love Yourself’ mantra. Witnessing such heartfelt performances only deepened my admiration. We look forward to being part of these events in the future, immersed in the remarkable talents and shared love for BTS.

Have you attended any BTS or K-Pop events in your city? How was your experience? Tell us in the comments!