Your chance to Hobnob with the Twitterati

Familiar with your Twitter buddies only in their virtual avatar? Today, thousands of Tweeters will unplug their laptops and step into the real world to meet for a good cause

Familiar with your Twitter buddies only in their virtual avatar? Today, thousands of Tweeters will unplug their laptops and step into the real world to meet for a good cause

If you think more fondly of Tweeters than being just a bunch of twits tweeting into the universe about anything, from what they ate for breakfast to the best burger joint in town, then head to Bandra, tonight.

Twestival, or the Twitter festival, is an annual event that gets Tweeters together for some real-life interaction, serious partying and the raising of funds for a charitable cause.

This time, the 100 bucks you shell out as the entry fee will go directly towards Concern Worldwide, an NGO that works towards the upliftment of people living below the poverty line.

The Coast at Bandra is the venue for this year's city Twestival

"Apart from using social media for social good, Twestival also serves as a meeting point for those one is connected with online," says Netra Parikh, one of the festival organisers, and quite the Twitter celebrity with 4,350 plus followers, who look to her for regular events updates and have also created a blog in her honour.

As Tweeters are often considered to be naturals at networking, there will be an hour dedicated to socialising, followed by games including Twousie (Twitter + Housie, in case you haven't caught on, yet!) and a musical quiz.

With fab discounts on food and beer for Tweeters, there's no point in holding back. "We hope to collect at least Rs 50,000," says Netra. "Partying to support a cause can it get better than this?" We might need to tweet to check.

Au00a0walk down memory lane

In September 2008, a group of London Tweeters decided to host an event called the Harvest Twestival.
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It was entirely sponsored by Tweeters and the group was able to raise substantial funds for a London-based non-profit organisation.
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The festival went global in February last year, raising a whopping US$ 2,50,000 for Water, a non-profit organisation that works towards providing clean drinking water to the developing world.

This year, seven Indian cities will participate. If you can't make it for the fest tonight, check out the local Twestival that takes place in September / October.
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The funds collected from this fest go towards a local charity. Follow @Netra to stay updated.

On: Tonight, 7 pm to 10 pm.
At: The Coast, fifth floor, Crystal Paradise, off Linking Road, Bandra (W).