The second edition of “Sneha Utsav – Bhaavnao Ka Mela”, organised by The Anandilal Podar Trust and Kangaroo Minds, brought Nawalgarh together yesterday for a transformative day dedicated to mental well-being. Held at Seth G.B. Podar College, the event united #mentalhealth experts, educators, social workers, and hashtag#students in a shared mission: normalising conversations around emotional wellness.

The #event was graced by Dr. Arun Garg, District Collector, Jhunjhunu, as the Chief Guest, and presided over by Dr. Vedica Podar, Founder of Kangaroo Minds and Trustee of The Anandilal Podar Trust.

Dr. Arun Garg set the tone with a powerful reminder that mental health should not be viewed merely as an illness or problem, but a vital pillar of a meaningful life. He called the Podar Trust’s initiative “a priceless gift for future generations.”

Dr. Vedica Podar reinforced the core #vision of the Utsav:

“Emotions are our strength, not our weakness. The purpose of Sneha Utsav is to create a safe space where everyone can express, listen, and understand one another.”

The program also paid homage to the Late Smt. Snehalata ji Podar with the ceremonial lamp lighting.

Key Dialogues That Mattered

• Rural Mental Health: Insights from Dr. S.M. Swami(State Nodal Officer, National Mental Health Program, Rajasthan), Mr. Ashok Sharma(Deputy Director, Education), Mrs. Neeru Yadav(Sarpanch, Lambi Ahir), and Dr. Vedica Podar highlighted the urgent need for #community responsibility in addressing rural emotional challenges.

• Digital Wellness: A timely discussion featuring Mr. Rajveer Singh Shekhawat(Additional Superintendent of Police), Dr. Kapur Thalor(District National Coordinator), and Dr. Vedica Podar on cyberbullying, digital addiction, and social media stress.

Student-Centric Engagement

• The Wall of Hope and Wall of Gratitude encouraged expressive art and collective reflection.

• The “Aao Baat Karein” session created a non-judgmental space for students to ask honest questions, with Dr. Vedica Podar responding with clarity and empathy.

• Cultural performances gave voice and rhythm to the theme of emotional awareness.

The event was graced by several eminent personalities, including Mr. Devendra Chaudhary, Mr. Ravindra Purohit, Mr. Kailash Chotia, Mr. Shrikant Murarka, Mr. Birbal Singh Godara, Thakur Anand Singh Shekhawat, Mr. Mahesh Mishra, Vaidya Shri Ramkrishna Shaunak, Mr. Murli Manohar Chobdar, and representatives of the Scout and Guide community.

Mr. Rajiv Podar, Chairman of The Anandilal Podar Trust, appreciated the team for organising Sneha Utsav with such purpose and clarity.

Senior administrators, including Executive Director Mr. M.D. Shanbhag, Secretary Prof. M.C. Maloo, and the principals were present.

Sneha Utsav has now grown beyond an annual event. It has become a movement of #empathy, #awareness, and collective action, shaping a mentally strong and emotionally resilient #society.