World Laughter Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May every year. The founder of this day is Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement. It is based on the theory that our facial expressions can have an effect on our emotions. (facial feedback hypothesis).
Laughter is positive and powerful. It is the magic cure to stress and helps bring about a change for the better, be it in our personalities or in our surroundings. And which is why it is all the more important for us to laugh and stay happy as due to the pandemic, there is a gloomy environment around us.
Once the situations around us are peaceful and light, we will automatically be relieved and stress-free. And this is what is essential to keep us positive and going.
Laughter day is now a global event. Though earlier, it was celebrated by gathering in person, we can, however, spend it online this time while being in quarantine.
Wondering how? Read on the given hacks provided below:-
- Fun sessions with family
You read that right. You can have a gala time with family. Sit together and share all the forward jokes. Your phones are flooded with them. Why not put them to good use right? If you are creative enough, you can write your own jokes and perform. Have your stand-up show with and for the people you love.
Another fun way would be to give everyone a different tongue twister and make them repeat it fast. Most of us will end up blabbering and this will definitely leave you all in bouts of laughter.
Another idea is a bit nostalgic yet will bring a smile on our faces. Take out the old photo albums and CDs. Revisit the memories and just laugh at your infancy and teenage years.
P.S- We all used to question our parents when we were kids that why we weren’t invited to their marriage. (Hahaha)
- Watch comedy movies today
This is a must one on the list. Create a watch list and have movie shows back to back. Have a fun-filled day with comedy and cinema. My favourite would be Dhamaal, Her Pheri, Phir Hera Pheri, Ishq and Golmaal.
- Laughter yoga
We might have heard about it but would have never thought of trying it. Well, what better day than today to initiate this. Open YouTube and their videos will teach you various exercises. And it is extremely simple, all you have to is LAUGH!
Interestingly, there are various online courses available where you can learn the exercises and also get certified in laughter yoga. A pretty good and productive way to use the lockdown days and add some humor to life I must say.
- Stand-up comedy is the new way
If you don’t want to perform, you can certainly watch it. Stand-up comedy has certainly picked up over the years. Dig out all the videos of your favorite comedians, compile them, and just hit the play button. Your stomach and jaws will definitely pain with all the laughter.
I also suggest shows such as Comicstaan 1 and 2 (Amazon Prime), Khichdi, Mr. Bean, Takeishi’s castle, Tu Tu Main Main, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, and well a favorite of many, Kapil Sharma. Our beloved, Tom and Jerry can be another great show to binge watch on.
- Chat with your friends
This is the best laughter source. Video call your friends and just gossip. Amidst all the chaos, they are our happiness abode. When you will end up gossiping, sharing each other’s troubles, look each other’s so-called homeless state in the video; playfully abuse and tease each other, pull each other’s legs, you will have the best time of your day. You will end up laughing the entire time.
Whoever said nothing in the world is free didn’t include laughter I suppose. It is one of the easiest and cheapest yet effective ways to instill positivity in our lives and be healthy. It is indeed the best medicine and therapy. It not only keeps us happy from within but also makes us look attractive and cheerful from the outside. As the saying goes, ‘smile is infectious’. Hence, always have that curve on your faces, do not give the power to anything or anyone to steal it away and keep on spreading it far and wide.
Hiam Abbass rightly explained, ‘’ Laughter is a way of really letting out all this pressure that you could face in your daily life in the suffering of your people, and comedy is almost like a medicine to your soul in a way. So, why not take a pledge and spread laughter all around us and help everyone especially in this stressful period?
Wishing you all Happy World Laughter Day!
The Scribbler's Dais 