Staff Correspondent: The fifth edition of The Flow Fest, the Winter Wellness Festival, opened at Fortis Platinum Lounge in Jolshiri on Thursday, bringing three days of outdoor activities, creative workshops and wellness programmes under the campaign “Dhaka, let’s go outside”.
The event marks the first time The Flow Fest has been held beyond Gulshan and serves as the soft launch of the venue. Visitors of different ages, including school students, took part in activities across six zones on the opening day, including Zumba, animal yoga, fencing, boxing, painting, origami, storytelling and discussions on mental health.
The organisers described the festival as an interactive educational platform where visitors can explore healthier living through modern science, mental healthcare, traditional knowledge and complementary practices. It also seeks to encourage people to seek support for mental health concerns without stigma.
“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,” said Shazia Omar, founder of The Flow Fest. “Wellness should not be a luxury. It should be a way of life, accessible to everyone.”
The morning programme on Thursday featured Zumba with Inaya, yoga with Zahra, animal yoga with Faria, gardening with Dhaka Jungle and cartoon drawing with Tanmoy. Storytelling sessions and upcycling workshops presented by Summit Corps, in collaboration with Chitro Karkhana, were also held.
Afternoon activities included classical dance with Kalpotoru, breathwork and mindful movement with Ish’s Soul Groove, portrait drawing with Ohama, origami, creative writing, boxing with Sanjida and hula hoop sessions with Sina.
Speed Friending offered solo visitors an opportunity to meet others, while Nashid led a Shareapy session with Men’s Table on social pressure and seeking support.
The day’s cultural programme featured Baul music by Porosh at 4pm, followed by a performance at 5:30pm by Dhaka rock band Nemesis, led by vocalist Zohad Reza Chowdhury.
Friday’s programme includes yoga, mindful art, mat Pilates and a writing workshop for teenagers. Talks by Dr Armaan and Don Sumdany are also scheduled, alongside rickshaw art and a stand-up performance by Amin Hannan, presented by bKash. The day will conclude with a concert by Cassette at 5:30pm.
On Saturday, SYM Society’s Morning Groove will open the programme at 10am, alongside the Uni Footy Tournament and the Flow Corporate Challenge. Other activities include a women’s self-defence session at 1pm, Purple Poetry at 3pm and Literary Talks with Shazia Omar. TUI is scheduled to close the festival with a performance at 5:30pm.
The Flow Market is running throughout the festival, featuring wellness brands, thrift shops and food outlets, including new launches Bare, Blossom and Bhorta Bros.
The festival will continue until November 14, from 10am to 6:30pm, at Fortis Platinum Lounge in Jolshiri. Day passes are priced at Tk 350, while three-day passes cost Tk 850. Children under five can enter free of charge. Free shuttle services are available from Flow Studio in Gulshan-2.
Tickets are available at Quicket, while shuttle information can be found on The Flow Fest website.
Founded by Shazia Omar, The Flow Fest is a Bangladesh-born, women-led wellness initiative centred on movement, mindfulness, creativity and connection.
