Mysticism to heal-thy soul

A one-of-its-kind healing festival comes back to the city for the second time promising to reduce the stress level of Mumbaikars

A warm hug, a soothing word or even a comforting gesture — there are many things that can be considered as having a ‘healing touch’. Indeed, it is this effect that Nidhu Kapoor’s upcoming festival, Mystic Lotus, which is set to happen in Bandra celebrates. “Healers can be dated to the time of Jesus, but if you keep the spirituality aside, from music to a person whom you’d like to spend time with can be called a healer. To some extent, yoga teachers and masseurs are healers in a way,” says Nidhu as she introduces the concept of healing and the nascent state healing industry is in currently. “Although there are no hard and fast esoteric academic criterion to become a healer, it is through practice that could become a healer. There are people who have practice it quite seriously,” she says.

A 2012 survey conducted by workspace provider, Regus had revealed that work (51 per cent) and personal finances (50 per cent) were the contributing factors for the increased stress levels of the Indian work force. In such an ever-increasing stress inducing environment — where waiting for buses can also add to ones stress level — Nidhu says that various healing practices can help not only to reduce the stress, but also keep one away from dependency on pharmaceuticals. “Doctors will always separate the body from the mind while psychiatrists and psychologists focus more on the mind; but in the practice of ‘healing sciences,’ body and mind work in tandem,” explains Nidhu.

The festival will have about 20 healing practitioners from various disciplines – reconnection, hypnotherapy, sound therapy, reiki, angel therapy, access consciousness, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) to list the names of a few.

Although such healing festivals are not new, Nidhu says that this edition is one of the biggest in the country and is unique convention of rare forms of healing. “For example, there will be sessions on jikedin reiki — a variant of reiki of course — but more intense and deep. There will be lot of reading sessions and about 15 tables to raise awareness on chakras and crystals.”

Both the days will close with sound therapy sessions, On Saturday, Priyanka Jay Patel will have a session with Tibetan bowls and on Sunday, Neelam and Paul Hinsberger will conduct a shamanic drum circle.

“In addition to our regular patron, at the festival, we are expecting lot of new and curious enthusiasts,” she says. Although she is aware of the scepticism that many people might have regarding the tradition of occultism, Nidhu hopes everyone will join in with an open mind. “The problem is, most people think that after a healing session, all their problems will be solved instantaneously – they will find a guide and they just need to follow instructions. But unlike such ill-conceived notions, healing sessions make one more aware and watchful and in the process makes one feel a little better,” she says.

The healing festival will take place on August 6 and 7, 11 am onwards, at Mount Mary Convent High School, Bandra (W)