Dhaka, Bangladesh — For four consecutive years, Shazia Omar, founder of The Flow Fest, has brought to Dhaka a beautiful curation of wellness experiences built around four pillars: movement, mindfulness, creativity and connection.
This November, for its fifth edition, The Flow Fest is moving beyond Gulshan to reach a larger community across Dhaka, driven by Omar's belief that holistic wellbeing is for everyone.
Taking place November 12–14, 2026, Winter Wellness will also mark the soft launch of Fortis Platinum Lounge in Jolshiri, a new outdoor destination offering expansive green fields, open skies and horseback riding.
Under the campaign "Dhaka, let's go outside," The Flow Fest will transform this beautiful green space into an immersive educational experience of what it means to be well.
More than a festival, Winter Wellness is an interactive educational installation where people can learn, question, experiment and share ideas about living healthier, happier lives.
It encourages seeking help without shame, connecting with others rather than struggling alone, and exploring different approaches to healing, from modern science and mental health care to ancient wisdom and complementary wellness practices.
Through talks, workshops and hands-on experiences, visitors will explore nutrition, rest and recovery, women's health, workplace wellness, meditation in a busy day, fascia stretching, lymphatic drainage, yoga's lesser-known powers, energy healing and mental decluttering.
The idea is not simply to listen to experts, but to participate, discover new practices and take home tools for everyday wellbeing.
Omar, a yoga teacher for over 25 years, draws inspiration from yoga festivals around the world and the philosophy of traditional ashrams, where the wellbeing of people, animals and the planet are deeply connected.
"I have always loved the spirit of yoga festivals and ashrams, where people come together to learn, share, eat, sing, move and simply be. Where animals and trees matter as much as people.
"I want to create a space where asking for help is seen as courage, not weakness. Where people feel comfortable talking about mental health, exploring different approaches to wellbeing and sharing what has helped them.
"If someone comes for a concert or a picnic and leaves having discovered a new practice, a new friendship, or simply the courage to ask for help, then we have achieved something meaningful. Wellness should not be a luxury. It should be a way of life, accessible to everyone."
— Shazia Omar, Founder, The Flow Fest
Winter Wellness brings together yoga, meditation, sound healing, martial arts, dance, fitness challenges and conversations on mental and physical wellbeing.
Children can enjoy storytelling, arts and crafts, singalongs and playful movement, while poetry slams and open-mic performances celebrate creativity and expression.
Music is central to the festival experience, with Nemesis closing the opening day, SYM Society performing on Friday morning, and TUI, the collaboration between Namrata and Mehsam, blending classical and electronic sounds. Cassette performing on Friday and Project Dhaka Creative bringing together an open mic on Saturday.
The Flow Market will feature wellness products, self-care, fashion, home décor, food, arts and crafts, alongside local sellers and thrift shops. Several new companies are launching at the Fest, including Bare and Blossom, offering clean products for babies, and Bhorta Bros, offering pantha bhaat and bhorta under the shade of the gratitude tree at the Fest. NGOs and community organisations will join the festival to encourage conversations around mental health, inclusion and social connection.
The festival is also an invitation to rediscover the simple pleasure of being outdoors. Visitors can spread picnic blankets across the fields, enjoy horseback riding, practise yoga under the sky, discover new communities or simply spend an afternoon with friends and family.
At its heart are two beliefs:
Because seeking help is courageous, not shameful.
Because we heal through connection, not in isolation.
The Flow Fest is not simply a place to practise wellness. It is a place to discover what wellbeing means, together.
November 12–14, 2026 | Fortis Platinum Lounge, Jolshiri
Day passes are priced at BDT 350, while a three-day pass costs BDT 850. Concerts and workshops are included, children under five enter free, and complimentary shuttles will operate from designated pickup points.
Bring your yoga mat, picnic blanket and water bottle.
Register: theflowfest.com/winterflow
Instagram: @theflowfestglobal
Founded by Shazia Omar, The Flow Fest is a Bangladesh-born, women-led wellness movement bringing people together through festivals, retreats, studio classes, community experiences and workplace wellness programmes. Built around movement, mindfulness, creativity and connection, it seeks to make holistic wellbeing accessible to everyone.
Lightness of body, freedom of mind.
