Workshop focuses on wellness of women

Lucknow: NGO Akanksha organised a wellness workshop for women at the CSI Auditorium, Raj Bhavan on Saturday.The event--'Wellness Rule: An Evening of Wellness'—also saw signing of an MoU between Akanksha and the Sleepwell Foundation to work collaboratively on emotional wellness for women across Uttar Pradesh.The MoU was signed by president of Akanksha, Rashmi Singh and managing trustee of the Sleepwell Foundation, Namita Gautam. IAS officer Deepak Kumar was the chief guest. Rashmi Singh highlighted Akanksha's journey from a small traditional shop into a thriving supermarket.The subsequent session featured Arvinder J Singh, director of Ashoka Centre for Wellbeing at Ashoka University, who shared a historical account from 1930s England about a 13-year-old girl's death upon learning about menstruation's monthly nature. His narrative emphasised the crucial need for emotional support systems and wellness programmes, noting how many individuals continue to feel isolated.The evening culminated in a Sufi performance by singer Rini Singh, who opened with 'Allah Tero Naam' and sang timeless verses of Amir Khusro, including 'Bhag Lage Is Aangan Ko Mere Piya Ghar Aaye' accompanied by Avni Sethi's evocative Sufi dance. The audience was captivated by renditions of 'Rangi Saari Gulabi Chunariya,' 'Mohe Apne Hi Rang Mein' and Ghalib's 'Dil-e-Nadaan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai'.