Riddhi Siddhi Mandal, based in JB Nagar, Andheri (E), in its 49th year, has taken a pledge to spread awareness about ‘Mental Health’ this Ganesh Utsav. They have created an engaging 15-minute live drama aptly named ‘Jeeyo Jee Bhar Ke’ that highlights how mental health takes a toll on Mumbaikars and how individuals can make changes in their lives or seek help if needed to manage it better. While Mumbaikars are generally peace-loving, there has been a recent trend of people losing their patience easily, leading to rising instances of suicides, road rage, tempers flaring, etc., which is a matter of concern.
This skit is a black comedy that begins with Lord Yama complaining about the increasing mental health issues people face, sometimes ending their lives prematurely, forcing him to work overtime to collect souls whose time has not yet come. He teams up with two Mumbaikars – Munna & Circuit – and seeks their help. The duo springs into action and saves a young student struggling with impulsive behavior and peer pressure, unable to cope with life. They also intervene just in time to rescue a person suffering from a mid-life crisis, who, overwhelmed by the rat race, is about to jump off the Bandra Sea Link, feeling he has missed the purpose of life. The show concludes with a psychologist offering tips on the importance of mental health and managing everyday challenges.
This black comedy offers valuable life lessons on mental health in an entertaining manner. Mental health not only affects the individual but also their family, professional life, and society as a whole. Despite the country’s progress, the suicide rate has doubled over the past 20 years, which is alarming.
Over the years, the Mandal has addressed various social issues through live drama skits, including women’s empowerment, the importance of family bonding, the trend of politicians party-hopping, collapsing city infrastructure, supporting transgenders, and debunking fake news.
The Mandal’s Ganesh Murti is also made from environmentally friendly and natural components. The Ganesh idol takes nearly two months to produce, requiring ample time for drying and finishing. Their live show is currently drawing large crowds and receiving much appreciation.
Dinesh Chindarkar, one of the organisers, said, “Every year, we take up a social cause and aim to raise awareness around it. We hear so many incidents of people jumping off the sea link or even in front of local trains; it’s time to sensitise the masses at large. While stress levels have increased, leading to anxiety and depression, there are ways to manage them. Awareness is crucial, and we must not hesitate to talk about it with our close ones or seek help if needed. That’s the message we aim to convey through this skit. It’s time we speak openly about the issue and remove the taboo surrounding it.”
Kiran Patel, another organiser, added, “Our Ganesh idol is made from tissue paper, alum, and natural gum, making it environmentally friendly. The idol takes a long time to craft, especially in the monsoon climate, but we must wake up to the need to conserve our environment. We also conduct the visarjan locally in an artificial pond to avoid polluting the sea.”
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