Every year on March 20, the International Day of Happiness serves as a reminder of the value of showing others gratitude and kindness. Moments of joy are experienced when we feel included and accepted for who we are as a result of the freedom of self-expression. As a result, the fair strives to establish a shared venue for senior members, people with disabilities, and those from underrepresented groups to showcase their talents, as creativity acts as one of the essential elements on the path to happiness. The idea of promoting kindness via inclusiveness aids in the fight against stigma, intolerance, and prejudice that the world is making a concerted effort to win. The Happiness Fair seeks to remove the stigma around mental illness and emphasize the importance of emotional wellness.

The Techno India Group’s mental health platform Monoshij organized the second iteration of the day-long Happiness Fair at its Saltlake facility.

Present at the inauguration were  P. C. Sorcar Junior, Mr. Sumit Agarwal, motivational speaker, Mrs. Soma Bhowmick, artist and motivational speaker, and Prof Manoshi Roy Chowdhury, Co-chairperson, of Techno India Group.

Post the inauguration, there was a panel discussion on ‘On Resilience: Overcoming Challenges In Life’ where Mr. Sumit Agarwal, motivational speaker, Mrs. Soma Bhowmick, artist and motivational speaker, and Prof Manoshi Roy Chowdhury, Co-chairperson, Techno India Group shared their views.

The audience benefited from the talk by learning how to handle challenges in life and how to increase their mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility. A workshop on “De-Stress through movements,” led by dance movement therapist Ms. Shayori Mitra, was held after the panel discussion. The class helped the participants become more aware of how controlling one’s movements might assist one manage stress. The “Sit & Draw Competition,” which promoted the inclusion of both those with disabilities and those who are able, was one of the fair’s distinctive features.

For the attendees of the fair, there were numerous other performances scheduled in addition to these. The fair included a fashion display put on by the elderly residents of “Snehodiya” and one with schoolchildren and their caretakers. Underprivileged children’s dance performances, Techno India students’ dance and music performances, an open quiz, Antakshari, and a flash mob were all enjoyable for everyone.

The NGOs’ booths, which featured handicrafts created by people from extremely low socioeconomic strata of society who were recuperating from chronic mental illness, were among the fair’s major highlights. The category featured goods produced by Techno India Group‘s sustainability effort, Y-East, as well as artwork and crafts displayed by design school students. A large variety of delectable food stands increased the enjoyment.

Priyanka Dutta