Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Laughing their hearts out

Stress-buster: Members of different laughter clubs celebrating the World Laughter Day at SRR & CVR Government College in Vijayawada on Sunday.

VIJAYAWADA: It was the first Sunday of May, and the prudent lot in the city knew where they should be heading. Cutting across barriers of caste, religion, age and profession, hundreds of people hit the road that led to a destination where people spoke a universal language – the laughter lingo.

Close to 500 members of eight different laughter clubs in the city assembled at SRR & CVR Government College to collectively laugh their hearts out to mark the World Laughter Day.

Their guffaws echoed in the vicinity, causing the confused passers-by to pause and take a closer glance and realise that laughter not only improves one’s face value, but it also helps activate the entire day.

The radiance in their faces was indicative of not just the tangential amusement and fun element but it also brought to the fore the expression of inner happiness that comes only through a deeper understanding of life. Revelling in the positive energy that brings good health, happiness and well-being, they also shared with others the best of the jokes they knew.

Earlier, the participants took out a rally from Chuttugunta, holding placards with eye-catching slogans. The procession culminated in a meeting on the college campus where management consultant M.C. Das addressed the laughter buffs. Tracing the origin of the first laughter club to Mumbai, constituted in 1998, he said later the culture spread to other parts.

He said laughter was a boon showered upon the human race and it could be used as an effective tool to achieve world peace.

“Laughter is the best medicine,” he reiterated, adding that he was in the habit of starting his every single day with a joke read out from a book by Bapu. “This is to ensure that I start my day on a happy note,” he said.

The programme was organised by the SRR & CVR College Walkers’ Association. Tondepu Subba Rao, founder- president of the Vijayawada Laughter Club, president of the SRR college walkers’ association P. Subba Rao, secretary M.S. Prakash Rao, P. Krishnaji of Vijayawada Walkers’ Club and others participated.

GUNTUR: More than 100 members of three laughter clubs in Guntur gathered at NTR Indoor Stadium to celebrate the day. Tracing the genesis to the Laughter Yoga Movement launched in 1998 by Madan Kataria, president of Laughter Club of Guntur Muvala Rama Rao said that the celebration of World Laughter Day was a positive manifestation for world peace and was intended to build a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship.

After going through their regular exercise from 5.30 a.m. to 6 a.m., children, men and women from all parts of the city converged at the stadium to laugh their heart out.

Acharya Nagarjuna University OSD N. Samuyelu and NRI Hospital physiotherapist H. Kalyan Rao participated in the celebrations. For further details on laughter yoga contact Mr. Rama Rao on the phone number 94908 47570.

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