Writers: Aishwarya Khale (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) & Shruti Jha (Delhi, India)

Editor: Pooja Vishwanathan (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India)

A tribute to SEVENTEEN’s 10th anniversary and album release, this year a fan meeting was arranged with a special theme named ‘HAPPY BURSTDAY,’ across cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, and Bengaluru in India on 24th and 25th of May, 2025. It was especially dedicated to their 5th Album under the same name.

Caratland Mumbai is an event organized by SVT India’s Fanbase every year or so. They have admins based in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bengaluru who organize events in these cities. This year, they opted to look for volunteers in other cities as well who would help them arrange these fan meets at a ground level. They got volunteers from Pune, Delhi, and Hyderabad, and with the additional event partner, Tani Entertainment, the events across India were a resounding success.

Carats from each city cherished their time together while having a blast through the schedule planned by the organizers. Let’s experience each venue from the mentioned cities across India, sharing their chaotic and heartwarming moments. 

HAPPY BURSTDAY – MUMBAI 

On 24th May 2025, the Desi Carats, full of passion and love, came together at the Kings Studio in Andheri West, Mumbai to honor the party, celebrating 10 years of Seventeen. As the attendees arrived, they picked up their goodie bags. There was an instant buzz when checking the goodies in their bags and preparing for trivia wars and the games, which set the mood. After the managing team gave a quick welcome, they launched straight into Don’t Lie (Seventeen’s version of the Mafia game) with multiple rounds, because nothing brings Carats together quite like accusing each other of being suspicious. There were other games, such as Trivia, which was full of facts related to members, memes, music videos, etc, and an all-out Treasure Hunt, which involved finding specific photocards in record time to win cool prizes.

The vibe felt like stepping into a live episode of Going Seventeen—spontaneous, silly, and sincere all at once, and also very loud. Seventeen themed Merch stalls, KitNation and Multifandom Merch stalls, and Kkrazzyforkpop offered scrunchies, photobooth strips, phone charms, keychains, memo pads, and bookmarks, which kept the attendees engaged. There was a Fan Art Corner especially for fans to create a space for art. At random moments, fans would start singing or dancing to parts of songs as they played in the background, like everyone singing along to “Home” or doing the “Rock with You” jump in sync. And during Circles, the entire room joined in like it was an anthem.

The RPD (Random Play Dance), a dance party segment, was a welcoming space for the crowd. They were confidently dancing their hearts out to Super, Aju Nice, Hot, and other masterpieces by Seventeen. Followingly, the HBD-themed cake was beautifully timed with the song Circles, which instantly turned the room into a sing-along. Whether it was mid-trivia debates, frantic puzzle-solving on the floor, or the hilarious reactions to obscure questions, every single person lost themselves in it. From the beginning to the very end of the event, the energy never dipped, while the excitement echoed across every corner.

Attendee Experience – Sanskruti

Sanskruti, one of the attendees, conveyed her happiest and memorable moments from the event.

I attended my very first SEVENTEEN’s fan meet, and it was nothing short of magical. Even before I stepped in, the energy was electric—I could feel the joy from the staircase itself.  The room felt like another world, with décor, vibrant lights, and excitement all around. The goodie bags were adorable, filled with everything I could wish for. The merch stalls were all my faves, and glad I was able to spend my money there. We played the iconic Mafia game (so chaotic and fun!), which included intense debates and even required treasure-hunting skills. The long-awaited trivia round felt more serious than my exams. Teams like HORANGHAE, SALUTE, TTT, and SARANGHAE NUMPIT were impressive and knew everything about SEVENTEEN, making the game even more competitive. I finally understood SEVENTEEN’s signature chaos through these games. And in true Jeonghan spirit, whenever a team lost, its members would help others win—it was wholesome and hilarious. Seeing so many CARATs—some even international—dancing together was something I had only hoped to experience, and they turned it into a memory I’ll never forget. A special thanks to the organizers for handling our chaos with grace.  And then there was the black-and-green cake—perfectly themed to match the ‘HAPPY BURST DAY’ album concept, and yes, it tasted as good as it looked! This fan meet wasn’t just a celebration of SEVENTEEN’s 10th anniversary—it was a celebration of fandom, friendship, and unforgettable moments. As a first-timer, I felt incredibly welcomed, seen, and connected. It’s hands-down the best thing that’s happened to me this year.

Organizer Experience – Mrudula Rajasekhar

Mrudula Rajasekhar, who coordinated in Mumbai and across all six other cities in India (Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata), described,

As an organizer, this was more than just a weekend plan—it was the product of late-night calls, post-work Zoom meetings where we planned trivia questions like it was a war strategy, and even some low-key planning during work hours. We are grateful to have a dedicated team behind it all, and seven versions of Caratland, running consistently and smoothly, were possible. Overall, we hoped we provided an experience that Mumbai carats can carry with them as a happy, warm memory. Logistically, we also learnt a lot about how we can improve the experience even more next time. We love Seventeen, their music, and what they stand for. Seeing that love and passion, reflected in Indian Carats, is a special kind of joy. It’s a reminder of how powerful the fan communities can be. The fandom and fan-meets like this – For many of us, they are a space to be loud, expressive, and unapologetically obsessed. We aim to keep creating more spaces like this. Every part of the day felt electric, and the love in the room was undeniable. From games to dance floors, it was Carats hyping Carats—and that’s the kind of fan culture we’re proud to be part of. The entire venue felt like a safe space—a mix of spontaneous joy and emotional connection.

HAPPY BURSTDAY – CHENNAI

Chennai Carats gathered to celebrate Seventeen’s 10th Anniversary with the shared feeling of having known each other for decades. Museum Café burst with fans’ enthusiasm on 25th May 2025. Each attendee, after the organizers introduced themselves, set an exciting tone in the environment. A cordial ambiance was evoked once the games began. Hongsam, Scream in Silence, Orange Orange game, Guess the Choreography with Words, Stupid Idiot Challenge, and the Legendary Mafia game were played with immense energy, similar to Going Seventeen. The vibe was induced with laughter and loud cheers for the fellow carats.

A break between the games allowed attendees to explore the venue for food and merch stalls named Kitnation, which featured beautiful scrunchies, memo pads, bookmarks, and photo cards. Manasha, a fan, set the floor on fire with her wonderful performance on DJ Khaled and Seventeen’s Love, Money, Fame [from the Spill the Feels, 2024’s album]. Followingly, fans formed groups and happily performed on the Seventeen’s songs; Maestro, Spell, and many more. All the fans were amped up during the cake-cutting and group pictures. The B-DAY PARTY: BURST STAGE at Jamsu Bridge, South Korea, on Weverse was an add-on to the day and doubled the fun, making it remarkable.

Attendee Experience – Lakshmi A

Lakshmi A, one of the fans, happily shared her experience from the event.

I loved the time with all the carats. As it was the very 1st time Chennai had such an event for Seventeen, which was a special fan gathering event after the SVT movie concert screenings. The experience was too good, and it was managed swiftly in the Café. The bonus point is that the Cafe was near the Marina Beach, and run by people with disabilities. It was quite touching. The staff were the sweetest, kindest, and enthusiastic towards their job. We had a wonderful time with everyone. We didn’t realize how time passed! And when the event came to an end, we all felt an urge to rewind time, to the start, and relive the fun once again. Hoping we get more events like this in Chennai for Seventeen and other K-pop groups as well!

Organizer Experience – Maria

Maria, one of the organizers from Chennai, recounted the process of making the event successful.

With the help of the Bengaluru team, who directed me to two individuals who vouched to make this event possible with me. At ease, the planning began with the selection of an affordable Café, until the items to be included in the goodie bag. I was grateful for the coordination and help I received from our members despite the challenges they faced. On the day of the event, the surprise awaited me was a few carats waiting outside the venue. They helped us with the setup, and as the event began, many attendees joined us. Once everyone was gathered, the icebreaker was the introduction of each attendee. It was fun and cute learning about how they came across Seventeen. As planned, we proceeded with the games and other schedules aligned for the day. I was nervous at the beginning, but watching the attendees enjoy the activities, I was relieved. Also, I loved the gorgeous and yummiest cake we had for the cake-cutting ceremony. It was an unforgettable day altogether. Though it wasn’t the perfect event, I am super grateful to all those who pitched in to help us. For a moment, it made me pause and appreciate being part of a community. This event hit home for me for loads of reasons! I’ll cherish it for as long as I can remember.

HAPPY BURSTDAY – DELHI

Dongne, The Town Café in Delhi, built up with the energy of Carats, came together to celebrate Seventeen’s 10th anniversary on 25th May, 2025. It didn’t take much time for them to bond. After settling, four hosts took the stage to set the mood, gave a hearty welcome, and walked through the planned schedule for the day. They also shared the fun stuff, which made the attendees cheer with happiness, such as goodies, gifts for the winners, etc. A short fun ice-breaker included- Guess the song in one second, it seemed impossible, but the talented carats nailed it effortlessly. The event kicked off with games, two rounds of the Mafia, which was full of chaos, quite similar to the members of Seventeen.

During the break time, the fans had a cake-cutting for the anniversary and then enjoyed the delicious food. The energy at the event was absolutely on fire, as no one was sitting still – each of them singing along to the songs played in the background. When the ‘Holiday’ song played, everyone jumped into performing the iconic choreography altogether, giving off the vibe of a mini concert. As the time ticked towards wrap-up, the whisper game and spontaneous singing took place, which made the whole experience feel more special.

Attendee Experience – Ayesha Parveen

Ayesha Parveen, a fan, positively expressed about the connections and the lovely bonds she created with her fellow Carats.

The overall vibe was chaotic, but in the best possible way! It was the kind of fun, wholesome chaos that reminds you exactly of Seventeen themselves, as if we were just mirroring our boys. The experience was nothing short of amazing. From the moment I walked in, there was this strong sense of belonging, like we were all part of one big Carat family. Whether it was fangirling over photocards, screaming during Mafia, or dancing together during Holiday, every moment felt full of joy and connection. None of us saw that coming — A fellow Carat gifted us all hand-crocheted friendship bands in Seventeen’s colors. It showed the love, creativity, and power this fandom holds. And to top it all off, winning the Whisper Game with my partner, Oorja, was honestly the cherry on the cake! What stood out was how people didn’t just leave with goodie bags or pictures — we walked away with genuine new friendships, core memories, and the promise of meeting again soon. Speaking on behalf of all the attendees, I think it’s safe to say we’re all incredibly grateful to the four amazing hosts who made this day and space possible, where we were able to create all the core memories.

Organizer Experience – Abhipsha Rana

Abhipasha Rana was thrilled to share how beautifully the event unfolded right from the start.

In no time, the café was buzzing with friendly chatter, joyful laughter, and a collective excitement for Seventeen, creating the ideal atmosphere to kick off the celebration for their 10th Anniversary. I was so excited to see the space fill up with smiling faces and Seventeen merch everywhere! While planning this event with my other three hosts, we were always wondering how it would be in person, but when Carats started coming in, it felt nice. A standout moment had to be when some fans brought their merch — the fangirling was real! From showing off photo cards to bonding over biases, the café turned into a mini Seventeen museum, and it honestly felt like a core memory in the making. It captured the true essence of the day: connection, creativity, and a community held together by a deep love for Seventeen.

This was the very first event I’ve ever hosted from scratch, and to see it come to life in such a beautiful, beyond anything I imagined. I was lucky to have three amazing team members by my side who helped me bring this vision to life. Together, we poured our hearts, and seeing it all come together, with so much laughter, love, and shared joy, was incredibly special. I’m grateful that it turned out to be a success. We’re already looking forward to hosting more events for Carats in Delhi. Next time, we’ll do our best to include more fans and make the space even more welcoming. As the event came to a close, we gathered everyone for one final moment together. It felt important to let Carats know how much love and effort went into it, and to thank everyone for being there and bringing the day to life with their warmth and energy.

HAPPY BURSTDAY – HYDERABAD

A friendly and impactful event dedicated to Seventeen’s 10th anniversary took place at Bagh Beans, Hyderabad, on the 25th of May, 2025. It began with the distribution of goodie bags, including a Seventeen-themed banner, a group picture, and bias photocards. As an ice-breaker, everyone introduced themselves one after another, sharing stories about their journey with K-pop and Seventeen. The game series included Hongsam, which evoked screams and laughter across the room, as it was madly loved by the Carats.

The ‘Treasure Hunt’ was a surprise element, re-enacting one of the episodes of Going Seventeen [A gaming show of the band]. Before the Treasure Hunt, short popular K-pop games were played against the host. The energy of all the attendees was up to par. They were the loudest when they caught the Mafia, and that’s when the live show started. A Laptop set-up was prepared to enjoy the live performance. All the attendees were enjoying the vibe in each other’s company and cheering for the boys, as the songs blasted on the speakers. They also offered delicious food and drinks from the cafe. Fans loved exploring the multiple stalls that sold t-shirts, bookmarks, scrunchies, accessories, and a photo booth, all of which were Seventeen-themed merchandise. The event came to a close with Carats capturing multiple pictures and reels with fellow fans, and the whole group, making it more memorable.

Attendee Experience – Arpita Chakraborty

Arpita Chakraborty energetically shares her experience while cheering for the members of the band, stating, “Say the name, SEVENTEEN!”

The event was SUPER fun for me, meeting the fellow carats, jamming on Seventeen songs, watching the live concert, and playing the famous Seventeen games, it made my day. The most unforgettable moment in the event was the mafia game, it was super funny, full of intensity within Carats, I must say. I was a mafia all along with two other Carats. We did win the game, but somehow the treasure was taken away by the citizens. The event was well-organised by Falguni and her team, and they did an amazing job! Finally, the place, I loved the energy and the vibe. To summarise, I always look forward to the seventeen events as they give me a chance to take a refresher from my usual day and hang around with people who are different than me and get to learn about the genre KPOP a bit more.

Organizer Experience – Falguni Lalwani

Falguni Lalwani narrated how she, with her partner, Nipunika Mishra, planned out the event at the last moment, building momentum for the SVT fans.

As an organiser, I was very overwhelmed at the start, but the rush of excitement hit when the day came and I was all dressed up and ready to play with my fellow Carats. As the event was a last-minute plan for Hyderabad. I saw a post by Seventeencaratsindiaofficial, where they were throwing a party in three cities together. So, I contacted them and got to be part of the seven-city event in India. That feels like a big thing in itself. Nipunika and I sorted all the arrangements together for the party. The unexpected moment for me was to have a full house at the event. And someone surprisingly got a big, like wall-sized poster of theirs to put up so fans can take pictures and enjoy! my heartbeat just elevated. There is one thing about Carats, that is their energy and craziness were spiked to another level; there was not a single minute of silence in there, but it was a lovely chaos.

HAPPY BURSTDAY – BENGALURU

As part of a fan-led celebration held across multiple cities, SEVENTEEN’s 10th-anniversary event lit up Bangalore, where devoted Carats gathered to honor a decade of music, memories, and unity. This was organised at Downtown Diner, Residency Road, Bangalore by Seventeen Carats Bengaluru (INDIA) on 25 May.

The event featured balloons, birthday banners, custom posters, and a memory lane section with posters from their past eras displayed around the venue. The games and activities that were organized were enjoyable, with debate night standing out for being completely nonsensical yet entertaining and funny. Carats had a great time during the treasure hunt, where the hidden treasure turned out to be an album and a set of photo cards. The highlight of the event was the Happy Burstday stage live stream — Carats cried, laughed, danced, and truly had the time of their lives.

Attendee Experience – Sahana

Brimming with joy, Sahana shared her experience of how the event swept her off her feet from the very beginning.

I had one of the best experiences among the events I attended before. They say that people are the ones that bring light to any place and that is absolutely true. I met so many carats which made my heart warm. There was also an encounter which I had never been before. A sweet carat who I met online gifted me a drink and Mingyu keychain just because he was my bias. An unexpected and kind gesture which would always remind me of that day. When the screening started,I was a little held back because I have been in other screenings for groups but this one held a special place as I was almost transported to feeling the vibes as if I was in the concert. That being said it has made me realise that I would always make time organised by svtbangalore for future events and never miss it again. Thank you for the amazing memory. It definitely has a special place in my heart.

Organizer Experience – Bhoomika Venkatesha

Bhoomika Venkatesha, who led the event with dedication, shares a glimpse of their experience organising the event.

I’ve been doing this for almost five years now, and it’s been one of the biggest reasons why my carat life has felt so special and fulfilling creating these memories and experiences for people who share the same love for Seventeen brings me so much joy.I’ve made countless memories and friendships through this, and honestly, I wish we could keep doing this forever with SEVENTEEN.

HAPPY BURSTDAY – KOLKATA

In celebration of SEVENTEEN’s milestone 10th anniversary, dedicated fan bases across various cities came together to host special events, one of which brought energy and excitement to Kolkata. This was organized at The Flamingo Cafe, Jodhpur Park, Kolkata by @svtindiancaratsofficial on 25 May. This cafe was chosen because it was already in a theme of Green-White, which was perfect for the theme, as the Happy Burstday album’s theme is also green. The additional decoration included green-black-white balloons, a flex, and SEVENTEEN’s OT13 pictures from their debut to this date. 

The Carats played various games. Hongsam game, which was an absolute favourite among the Carats who attended. They also played shouting in silence, danced charades, and guessed the member from cropped pictures. Dance Charade was a new game, but the Carats enthusiastically participated and enjoyed it. Shouting in silence was absolute gold; it was a fan favorite. They played all of these games in teams. The teams were “Salute”, “Black Seventeen”, “Tiredz line”, and “My Jibang, My Cholesterol.” The Winning Team “My Jibang, My Cholesterol” members received official photocards and postcards as prizes. 

Organizer Experience – Anisha Pal

Anisha Pal, the event organiser in Kolkata, enthusiastically shares the experience of bringing the entire celebration to life.

From svtindiancaratsofficial’s side this was the third event in Kolkata. But the gap between the 2nd and 3rd one is nearly 2 years. So at first we were insecure and thought we wouldn’t be able to attract enough people. But eventually people showed up. The reaction we got from the attendees made all of our efforts successful. Everyone loved all the games, food was really good, they loved the freebies and stalls. For a lot of the attendee Carats, it was the first Carat event in Kolkata which made their experience a bit more special. And we specially want to thank them because they were such a good support. They are the sweetest Carats ever! With the help of the organizing team of Kolkata and Carats we successfully completed it.  It felt so good to successfully organise something for Seventeen and their beloved Carats. We hope we’ll be able to do many more small and big events here in Kolkata. 

HAPPY BURSTDAY – PUNE

To celebrate SEVENTEEN’s 10th anniversary, fans in Pune came together for a locally organized event, joining similar gatherings held in other cities. This was organised at  Iya’s Korean Kitchen, Pashan, Sus Road by @svtindiancaratsofficial on 25 May.  This café is located in the vibrant heart of Pashan. Iya’s Korean Kitchen is a cherished culinary heaven where tradition meets innovation. The venue was decorated with balloons in the official colors (rose quartz & serenity). They played various games, SEVENTEEN game carters, and also did a cake-cutting ceremony. Coincidentally, there were only 13 Carats present at the venue, the same as Seventeen’s lineup, and it was full of chaos.

Organizer Experience  – Kshitija Shinde

As the driving force behind the event in Pune, Kshitija Shinde shares heartfelt insights on organizing the event.

Caratland brought to life in Pune. Hosted in a cozy, vibrant setting, the event was filled with SEVENTEEN’s music, laughter, and the unmistakable warmth of the Carat community. Fans gathered to honour their favourite idols with themed decorations, personalized photocards, and a delightful Korean meal experience. From a heartfelt video montage to group chants of “Happy Burstday,” every moment sparkled with genuine fan love. The highlight? A custom cake-cutting session under pastel balloons, reminding us that Caratland isn’t just a place—it’s the people, the passion, and the shared joy of celebrating SEVENTEEN together. 

Conclusion

As SEVENTEEN celebrates its 10th anniversary, it becomes more than just a celebration of longevity. It becomes a deep look at what it means to grow together, not just as artists, but also as individuals, as a team, and as part of a bigger story that they write with their fans, CARATs. Ten years in the competitive and always-changing industry is no small undertaking. It’s a sign of their strength, flexibility, unity, and most importantly, how real they are. SEVENTEEN has changed what it means to be an idol group. They started with limited resources and have since become one of the most famous and loved K-pop acts in the world. The 10th anniversary stands for strength, not just through success but also through hard times. The best part of this heartfelt journey is that it’s still going on and will continue. This is not the end of the story; it is a strong bookmark in a story that is still being written. It’s a reminder that even though ten years have passed, the magic of SEVENTEEN is still going strong. For CARATs, that means more albums to look forward to, more concerts to go to, and more memories to make.

Here’s to the first ten years with SEVENTEEN, which were full of laughter, tears, growth, and songs that will stay with CARATS forever. And here’s to the years to come, when their passion will continue to shine and guide carats all over the world through both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life.

Happy 10th birthday, SEVENTEEN. Your music makes the world a better place, and this is just the beginning of the journey.

_{Video Credits: HYBE LABELS}

Have you attended similar events? Drop your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.