Artists, dancers, students, and psychologists came together to champion mental health literacy at the daylong Mon Utsab Festival held at the prestigious Bangla Academy on Friday, October 20, 2023.
Organized by a dedicated team comprising Associate Professor of Psychology at Dhaka University, Md Salim Hossain; artist Shamir Ahmed Hemel; counseling psychologist-musician Danny Amin; psychologist Zarin; and independent journalist and Faculty member at North South University, Asif Bin Ali, the festival featured an array of activities aimed at raising awareness and understanding of mental health.
The Mon Utsab Festival boasted a diverse range of events, including an art camp, an art exhibition, captivating performance art, and mesmerizing music shows.
One of the highlights of the festival was a thought-provoking panel discussion. Author Anisul Hoque and Associate Professor of Child, Adolescent, and Family Psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health, Helal Uddin Ahmed, spoke eloquently about the vital importance of mental health management and early childhood development. Leading Bangladeshi fashion designer Bibi Russell and single mother Ruma shared their personal stories, adding a touching dimension to the event.
The festival also celebrated the creative arts with performances by artists like Jolergaan, Ahmed Hasan Sunny, Ritu Raj, Roxana Amin, and Tullkalum, who shared their personal stories, inspiring the audience with their talents and experiences.
Shehzaad Chowdury hosted an insightful artist talk where participants discussed the importance of creating products from recycled materials, shedding light on the crucial intersection between art and sustainability.
Arthy Ahmed contributed to the festival by offering free dance lessons, while Suchi Mimi and Busra sang local songs, delighting the audience with their musical talents.
In addition to the performances and discussions, a group exhibition showcased 20 artworks by seven artists, all of which explored themes of fear, self-confidence, anxiety, and the cycle of thoughts, encouraging contemplation and reflection among festival-goers.
“Although we celebrate different religious and cultural festivals, almost no programs are organized in our country to promote mental health literacy,” remarked Shamir Ahmed Hemel, one of the festival’s organizers. “We organized this festival to disseminate mental health knowledge, and we are committed to making it an annual event.”
Asif Bin Ali, another organizer, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the need to take care of our minds, stating, “It’s very important to spread the awareness that we must take care of our minds.”
Md Salim Hossain, an organizer, shared the vision of making this an annual event and involving people from all sections of society in using psychological content to maintain a happy and healthy mind.
Mon Utsab is a unique festival that brings together artists, psychologists, students, and the community to promote mental health literacy through the creative arts and educational discussions. Organized by a dedicated team of professionals and artists, the festival aims to raise awareness and understanding of mental health while celebrating the power of art and expression.
