JAY JOSHI
Today, human approaches have become quite mechanical. Conversations have become transactional, and there is a need to encourage well-being and positivity within organisations. And while attention is being provided to physical well-being, emotional well-being is not treated with the same seriousness. As we all rush through busy and fast life, it would certainly help to take a pause and connect with nature, rekindle our passion, and engage in deep, warm and meaningful interactions.
The desire to foster such interactions and activities prompted experience designer Deepankar Raina, and space designer Vibhav Kamat to conceptualise Happiness Festival, an exercise that draws upon concepts of positive psychology to promote emotional well-being among the participants. The festival is a four-day residential event which will be held from July 25 to July 28 at Tanshikar spice farm in Netravali. The event is being held jointly by New-Delhi-based design consultancy Anubhavshala, and Goan design venture Swayambhu Life. in addition, Intrinsic Foundation, an NGO from New Delhi working in mental health will act as facilitator and Positive Ninja, a content agency from Pune will be promoting the event.
The programme for the festival includes activities such as nature trails, and trust-building games that provide attention to rejuvenation of the mind and body. Secondly, participants will get a chance to learn the tools and techniques to develop a positive attitude, gratitude, and kindness, say organisers. “There is a child within us all. But as we grow up, it diminishes. We become more sophisticated. The idea behind this festival is to explore how we can get in touch with the inner child,” says Deepankar Raina, the curator of the event, adding that the event will also look at being an adult from a different perspective. “Does being an adult mean always being serious? We believe that some playfulness can be brought to ‘adulting’ too,” he says.
Co-curator Vibhav Kamat elaborates more on the origins of the idea for this event. “The event evolved as a result of a conversation between Deepankar, who works in experience design, myself, working in space design, and a friend, Vardhaman Khedekar who is a culture and nature enthusiast. Through this event we decided to collaborate to fuse space design and experience design to bring about a positive impact on people,” states Kamat.
That said, the purpose of the event is to build a community of optimists, and then to help that community grow, say the curators. “This four- day festival intends to create a tribe, and help it grow by establishing local chapters and events that will keep the spirt of this festival alive,” states Deepankar. “When the Happiness Festival happens again next year, the small local pods that have been created can converge to exchange ideas and take the initiative ahead,” he adds.
