Be it a physical disability or mental illness, disability as a concept is seen as ‘less than’. Family members, friends, media outlets and society as a whole, reinforce this perception. This affects the self-definition of and opportunities accessible to a whole group of citizens. In addition, self stigmatization also exists to a large extent. Although the focus of Bhor is mental health, we want to take a cross disability perspective as mental health has an intersectionality with other disabilities and marginalisations. Through a public festival of ‘reclamation’, we aim to show how disabled peoples are as normal as the so called ‘normal’ or perfectly abled people. If people with disabilities can work, live, love, laugh, engage with the world just as everyone else, isn’t disability just a social construct?

Bhor Foundation’s core focus is mental health and neurodiversity but believes marginalisation can occur because of being differently abled and under the capitalist ableist lens, disabled people or people with mental illness are seen as a ‘burden’ by governments, families and society. It is time to celebrate the ordinariness of all people, the right to choose treatment, work or anything else. Through the reclamation of the body and the mind, people can celebrate their lives and live with joy and ease. Join us as we reclaim and celebrate!

This two day festival will screen films, panels, poetry and open mic and an art workshop. There is also be self care spaces and mindfulness and yoga built into this festival. The vibe will be young, fun and colourful, with an emphasis on championing lived experiences and celebrating ‘madness’, ‘dis-ability’ and more.

10% EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT CODE ON ALL (Except Students and Donor Pass): PROJECT10

( Applicable till 31st August)

30% STUDENT PASS DISCOUNT CODE: STUD100 

(Applicable till 31st August)

Event Schedule:

Day One- 7th September 2019

10 - 10.30 am

Registrations & Welcome

10.30-11.00 am

ACTIVITY: Folk Dancing With Porkodi. Porkodi Palaniappan and her team will lead the group in a dancing ritual. This energiser will be how we start the festival.

11.15 - 12.30 pm

PANEL: Capitalism, Ableism and Disability.

Panelists: Jagdish Chander, Manisha Shastri, Deepa Palaniappan, moderated by Jhilmil. 

12.30-1.30

WORKSHOP: Art Heals. Art Transforms. Megha Saklani will lead this art workshop.

1:30 - 2:30 pm: Lunch

2.30 - 3.30 pm

WORKSHOP: Theatre & Story Immersive Workshop. Bhargavi Davar of Bapu Trust will lead the group in an immersive workshop on performance, theatre and story.

3:30- 4:00 pm: Tea Break

4 - 5.30 pm

WORKHOP: Counselling Skills for Laypeople Workshop on counselling skills for laypeopeople based on the Atmiyata model lead by Sadhvi Krishnamoorthy and Kaustubh Joag of CMLH.

5.30 - 6.30 pm

ACTIVITY: The Listening Circle

Day Two- 8th September

10 - 10.30 am

Registrations & Welcome

10.30-11.45 am

Panel 2 - Can We Use Sexuality To Reclaim Disabled and Marginalised Bodies & Minds. Moderated by Jagdish Chander, the panel will comprise Chintal Girish Modi, Manavi Khurana and Shambhavi Saxena..

11.45 - 1.30 pm

Poetry writing workshop by Manjiri Indurkar

1:30 - 2:30 pm : Lunch Break

2.30 - 3.45 pm

Panel 3 - Whose voices are important and who gets to talk about their experiences?

Panelists: Zain Khan, Manjiri Indurkar, Shelja Sen

3.45-4.15 pm: Tea Break

4.15 - 5.30 pm

Film: Atasi, followed by a panel. Atasi is a film produced by Ratnaboli Ray of Anjali.

5.30-6.30 pm

Ankahee: Bhor's Open Mic