Sometime in May last year, a group of women in their late 30s and 40s came together for an afternoon of art, movement and play at an informal event in Kochi.
For many, it had been years since they had run around or played freely. By the end of the event, the women spoke about how good it felt to let their guard down and simply be themselves. It was a small, informal event, organised at no cost, but it would eventually lead to the formation of Project Chiri.
The initiative was started by T S Nandana, a classical dancer and final-year master’s student in clinical psychology at Christ University, Bengaluru, along with two of her classmates, Diya R and Vismaya.
That first event was an eye-opening experience for the trio. “Women of that age group are navigating a particularly demanding phase of life — they have to balance work, family responsibilities and the physical and emotional changes that come with age, including menopause. And the feedback we got was quite heartening. Some cried, and others laughed without any inhibitions. It made us realise how much people need spaces where they can just let go,” she says.
Bringing together their interests in psychology, art and movement, the trio began exploring how creative expression and physical activity could aid emotional well-being.
“Many believe that therapy is limited to sitting across from a professional and talking. But that is not the case. There are many ways to aid their mental health, along with talk therapy. We want to give people an experience of that,” says Nandana.
Since last year, they have been organising group sessions that encourage participants to engage with their bodies, imagination and creativity. “We wanted to create spaces where people could connect with themselves and others without feeling the pressure to fit into a particular idea of happiness,” Nandana explains.
The initiative’s tagline, ‘Beyond the Smile’, asserts that emotional well-being is more than simply appearing happy. The team is now taking this approach forward with Ninav, an event that invites adults to revisit their childhood.
The Malayalam word ‘Ninav’ stands for fond memories or happy recollections. The event is planned as a journey back to the familiar games and fun that were an important part of growing up, especially in Kerala, where sand, water and greenery were constant company, Nandana explains.
The programme takes inspiration from the concept of the five elements and combines it with the five senses. They will include traditional outdoor games and sensory activities. The idea is to move away from screens and reconnect with surroundings through the five senses — touch, smell, sight, taste — and movement.
“We have played so many outdoor games growing up, but rarely look at them from the perspective of movement and the body. Even something as simple as touching the ground can become a sensory experience. Through Ninav, we want people to find a little roadmap back to their childhood,” says Nandana.
In the long run, Project Chiri will focus on providing affordable mental healthcare while incorporating interesting activities. For now, Nandana hopes that the event will encourage people to come forward and rediscover the joy of being present in the moment and connect with others.
“We have lost the joy of playing outdoors until sunset, feeling the earth beneath our feet, enjoying food that tastes like home. With this event, we hope to bring that back, even just for an evening,” she smiles.
Ninav will be held on November 7 from 4pm to 7pm at the Local Sustainable Living, Maradu. To register, contact 8281559522 or 8547131369.