Flow Fest redefines wellness in Dhaka with creativity and community
The three-day wellness festival brings together music, movement, art, and community to help Dhaka pause, breathe, and heal
As I strolled through Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park, there was a certain calmness in the air which you do not usually get to feel in festivals, and definitely not in ones focused on wellness. With soft, warm sunlight peeking through the trees, faint music suddenly drifted from the amphitheatre. Slowly, a cover of 'Give Me Some Sunshine' from the open mic segment filled the area, and everything started feeling a little better.
Previously known as Dhaka Flow, The Flow Fest Dhaka 2025 is a wellbeing festival that focuses on health and mindfulness by helping people live better physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially through a variety of shared, mindful, and creative experiences.
Being held from 6 November to 8 November, the festival offers a plethora of events, ensuring that every single person finds something of interest. Beyond the regular yoga-based segments, the festival had everything from dog shows to self-defence seminars to theatre performances.
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Rubayat Kittyy, the sponsorship lead for Flow Fest, explained, "Healing does not happen in isolation but rather in communities. So, when you come here and find other people going through the same things as you, healing becomes easier and more comfortable."
She continued, "In regards to the variety of segments we are hosting, healing for me might be cardio, but for someone else, it can be art or music, or maybe dog shows for animal lovers. This fest is for adults, parents, older people, kids—absolutely everybody."
On the first day, one of the events that caught my eye in the 'Art and Soul' segment was the 'Art Healing by Diti Roy'. I must admit that the idea did seem a little odd to me, but upon observing her session, it was easy to see its impact.
"Therapeutic art essentially means art made from mindfulness. Too often, art is made to make other people happy or for exhibitions, but it is rarely made for our souls. So, I am exploring avenues where people can feel grounded with various aspects of creativity. The idea is to prompt honest and intimate conversations with themselves," explained Diti.
By itself, the segment was fairly simple. The theme was to make a card addressed to yourself and design the cover with a word that you wish for yourself. Inside, you write about what you want and decorate it.
"The Jaago children were around and they enjoyed the session a lot. They were bringing in a lot of wholesome words like confidence. When young girls are getting a place to talk about something like that, it really feels like you were able to do something special for them," concluded Diti Roy about what the event meant to her.
But this extended beyond just the arts. The first day had a host of other events meant just for kids, including mixed martial arts, crafts, storytelling, and more.
The most important aspect of Flow Fest to me is that it essentially makes such segments accessible to children who otherwise have very little exposure to them. When your event allows underprivileged kids to enjoy creativity, that is a huge win in my book.
Alongside this, a dance performance by 'Havana Salsa' was taking place in the amphitheatre, and the energy in the area was absolutely electrifying. The event had woken up the entire space with its upbeat salsa music (including 'Despacito', funnily enough). Every performer had incredible chemistry and, in turn, pulled off such captivating dances that kept you hooked to every move.
In a festival dedicated to wellness, Havana Salsa reinforced the idea that dance is also a form of therapy. Watching strangers laugh, dance, and lose themselves in the rhythm captured the very essence of Flow Fest, where connection thrives through shared joy and uninhibited self-expression.
Up next was a theatre performance by Majhamajhi. It had an overarching theme of mental health and how our social norms have allowed harassment and trauma to perpetually penetrate our lives, even through digital platforms.
Even with a heavier theme, the storytelling was done beautifully through music, dance, exaggerated body language, and well-timed humour. The upbeat tone of it was well placed following discussions on hypermasculinity, misogyny, and generational trauma, keeping the audience engaged throughout. The segment ended with an open call for the viewers to join the cast in a dance.
Among the festival's major highlights are several other community-driven events. The Thrive Walkathon on 7 November encouraged participants to walk for the great cause of supporting children's nutrition and education through Thrive Global programmes, while the final day's 5KM Fun Run invites everyone to test their limits in a friendly, energetic challenge.
Global wellness experts, including Dr Ken Yamamoto, Rebecca Brosnan, and Michelle Tan, are also leading specialised workshops on holistic health and energy work. Additionally, the 'Shareapy: Women's Health and Healing Circle' segment had created an intimate space to break taboos and share stories of strength and healing.
The festival not only celebrates wellness but also creates a space where people of all ages can connect, explore, and rediscover the joy of living fully.
