Mangaluru: Laughter has a positive effect on health and social relationships, said MCC Mayor Harinath, while re-launching the post-monsoon sessions of Bondel Laughter Club On Sunday, October 23. The mayor reminded a saying on the occasion, “When you cry, you cry alone; but when you laugh, the world laughs with you”.
Harinath said that these days, people lead inactive life. “From home, people sit in the bus, car or scooter, work in the office or shop and return the same way. There is no exercise in this routine. Then they get lifestyle diseases like diabetes and obesity. They go to the doctors and they say walk for half an hour or two miles. They do not look at alternative ways of exercising like swimming or joining laughter clubs like Bondel Laughter Club here. In Mumbai and Bengaluru, there are many laughter clubs where people laugh their way to good health,” he said.
“I am not saying that walking is not good, but it has a danger element. On the Kadri-Airport Road, taxis and cars to the airport and return drive at breakneck speed endangering road walkers. It is safe to walk on maidans like these. The more people use this maidan, the Corporation will be encouraged to improve it – like providing a jogging track. It will also prevent non-locals from grabbing this maidan for grand projects and make money out of it,” he added.
The Mayor appreciated the efforts in running the Bondel laughter Club for 15 years and urged the people to take advantage of this facility.
It is now “Bondel Sarvajanik Maidan” by public acclaim
The Mayor further said, “This maidan should be for local people. Now it has no name. There is a popular demand to call it Bondel Sarwajanik Maidan. It is a good Idea. Giving a new name officially by the Corporation is a long process. Till this is done, let us go by the popular name of Bondel Sarvajanik Maidan”. The gathering endorsed the new name with loud cheers.
Coming back to the laughter club, the Mayor said, “It is more than collective laughing. It has got exercises to benefit all parts of the body – much more than mere walking. I strongly urge our people to take part in the daily Bondel Laughter Club sessions in the morning and reap the health benefits of laughter.”
John B. Monteiro, founder and lead anchor of the club welcomed and conducted the proceedings. AMA Khalil, founder member and co-Anchor proposed the vote of thanks.
After the Mayor’s re-launch signal, there was demonstration Laughter Club session, anchored by John Monteiro, lasting 20 minutes.
