Anantara Kalutara gets into the Oktoberfest spirit

Saturday, 13 October 2018 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Madushka Balasuriya

When you think of Oktoberfest, generally two things immediately spring to mind: Lederhosen and beer. As we entered Anantara Kalutara Resort, the first was expectation was met immediately, with Cluster Director of Public Relations at the hotel Norman Zweyer greeting us decked out in full traditional Bavarian lederhosen – essentially leather shorts with H-shaped suspenders. The second, meanwhile, was fulfilled later on in the evening.

We were of course visiting Anantara Kalutara to experience their first ever annual Oktoberfest party, which was held at the property last Saturday. “Celebrate the most famous and iconic German beer festival, with a tropical spin and dance to great music by the band Magic Box Mixup and beats by DJ Niranjan at the pool deck of the resort, overlooking the lagoon,” was how the event was marketed, however sadly the weather Gods hadn’t received the memo.

Non-stop rain on the morning of the event meant that all the event decor – which had until that point been meticulously set up poolside – had to be hurriedly shifted to Anantara Kalutara’s rather spacious grand ballroom. Guests meanwhile, who might have otherwise been enjoying the resort’s wide array of activities and excursions as they awaited the evening’s festivities, had to make do with some indoor rest and relaxation – thankfully there are very few places that do it better than Anantara.

The night’s entertainment eventually kicked off at 6 p.m., and steady on through the evening more and more guests began filtering in; by around 9 a majority were present and the party was in full swing. Local beer and an array of cocktails were on offer at a fully-stocked bar, while each dinner ticket (Rs. 7,999) included access to an unlimited German Buffet and four mugs of beer.

Anantara is known for their food, and unsurprisingly the buffet was a smash hit. Authentic Bavarian and German cuisine, such as Schweinebraten (Roasted pork knuckle), Würstl (sausages), Leberkase (meat loaf), and Brezn (pretzels), were all available alongside a host of other exquisitely grilled meats and seafood. Those with a sweet tooth were also treated to a wide selection of authentically German delicacies, such as apple strudel and black forest cake, to name but a few.

It was the music though that really lit up the evening, with Magic Box Mixup an inspired choice of band as they went through their repertoire of classical and contemporary covers. DJ Niranjan meanwhile kept abreast brilliantly of the vibe of the crowd, as the night went on and the inebriation levels rose.

There were also some fun and games over the course of the evening, with several one-night stays at the world-class Anantara properties both local and abroad given away to the winners. On the whole it was a triumphant start to what is sure to be a much-looked forward to tradition in the years to come.

Pix by Kushan Pathiraja