Fatehsagar came to life on Sunday evening when a group of youth decided to ditch the cold coffee for free hugs. Walking the length of Paal and circling the Bombay market, the proposal of human connection created a buzz and energy that met with the beautiful lake and the surrounding Aravali Mountains.

About 15-20 youngsters spontaneously decided to make some posters in Hindi and English to share some love or to receive a ‘jadoo ji jhappi’ at the paal before spreading themselves to get a broader a coverage. Seeing youth engaging with others rather than sitting on the lake walls was a welcome change. Barriers were broken between ages, genders, religions, workers and walkers.

The simplicity and fervor created by them galvanized others to join the huggers. A passerby, Abdul Rehman remarked, “At first I thought they were from some organization or were trying to promote something, but they were just promoting sharing and some hugs. It was very refreshing to see.”

Besides providing a channel for youth to interact with new people, there was a deeper reason behind the evening antics. Olaf, a youth in Udaipur right now, explained it as this: “I have seen something similar in Germany. It’s great that such simple human engagement is universal and provides so much happiness without the need for any resources.”

The response from the Udaipur locals was a surprise even for the most optimistic, showing us the deep connection of offering human interaction. Manish Kataria was one hugger who was pleasantly surprised with the local reaction: “I didn’t expect people in India to be so responsive. Even if they didn’t want to hug, a handshake or a smile was enough. It is all about the intent and sharing culture.”

The success of the event will hopefully pave the way for similar ‘jadoo ki jhappi’ moments, putting smiles on people’s faces all over Udaipur.

Photos by Manish Kataria