On March 3, 2025, ABC Laughter Team, Manipal, turned into a hub
of joy, celebration, and, of course, unstoppable laughter as members gathered
to celebrate the 75th birthday of Sri Umanath Shenoy, the esteemed
founder member of the group. It was a day filled with warmth, fun, and
infectious laughter— what better way to celebrate life than with a belly full
of laughter?
Morning Celebrations: Laughter, Wishes, and a Bouquet of Joy
The morning session saw an outpouring of best wishes from the members. The senior-most laughter yogi, Sri Alevoor Doddamane Sridhar Shetty, led the felicitation with a grand bouquet. The air was soon filled with the classic chorus of "Happy Birthday" as Shri Karunakara Shetty, the Associate Dean of Laughter Yoga, took charge, ensuring that everyone sang in perfect harmony—or at least, loud enough to scare the morning crows away!
ABC Laughter Yoga has established a fun tradition of celebrating
milestone birthdays—75th, 80th, 85th, and beyond. Some members like Shri
Shankar Shetty and Shri Karunakar Shetty are already planning their century
celebrations (though they've requested softer birthday cakes to avoid dental visits).
As per custom, heartfelt wishes poured in, hoping for Sri Umanath Shenoy's
long, healthy, and laughter-filled life.
The Grand Dinner: A Feast Fit for Laughter Lords
As evening approached, the celebration took a delicious turn. Sri
Umanath Shenoy hosted a grand dinner at Hotel Nithyananda, Udyavar, Udupi,
and by 7:00 PM, laughter yogis were already at the venue, sniffing the air with
anticipation. The official dinner start time was 7:30 PM, but some members
arrived early- driven by their well-trained appetites—just to do "quality
checks."
The dinner was meticulously
coordinated by Sri Ashok Kumar Shetty, who carefully selected a
menu catering to taste buds and
digestion-friendly laughs. It was also observed that he had
taken special care to ensure that traditional
refreshments were available in ample quantity—delivered in a
large, well-sealed container, preserving its authenticity and natural essence.
A select few, well-versed in such matters, nodded approvingly at his efforts. As
expected, the laughter yogis did full justice to the feast, proving that a good
laugh pairs well with a good meal (though some had to do a few extra breathing
exercises afterwards to make space for dessert).
Interestingly, the evening was made even more special as certain
select members discovered a fine essence from across the border, brought in as
a token of Umanath Shenoy's recent travels. It was said that this rare
"spirit of celebration" added an extra sparkle to the laughter yoga
session that followed. However, in the midst of the dinner, it seems that some
of this prized elixir mysteriously vanished—whisked away before Dr. DR Shenoy
could keep count. Those who know, know.
Stage Function: Felicitations and a Graceful Escort
After the meal, a special stage function followed because no
great gathering was complete without a little extra applause and many
heartfelt words.
Sri Alevoor Doddamane Sridhar Shetty, who was deeply immersed in the joyful
spirit of the evening, found himself momentarily absorbed in its effects.
Recognizing the need for a steady hand, Sri Balakrishna Shetty expertly
escorted him to the stage, ensuring that all formalities were completed with
due honour—albeit at a slightly more measured pace than usual.
Once at the podium, Sri Alevoor gracefully resumed his role, presenting
yet another grand bouquet. Major Radhakrishna, the Master of Ceremonies,
took charge of the proceedings and kept everyone engaged with his crisp
delivery and lively energy.
Speaking about the birthday star, he humorously remarked:
"Sri Umanath Shenoy is proof that growing older is mandatory, but
growing up is optional! His childlike enthusiasm keeps us all young at
heart—even if our knees disagree!"
The celebrations didn't stop there. Sri Ranjan K, another esteemed
founder member, was also honoured with a bouquet for being elected as the first-ever
President of the Udupi Civil Engineers Association. The official foundation
ceremony of the association will be scheduled for March 1, 2025, at 6:30 PM
at the Rooftop of Hotel Kidiyoor, an event that promises to be as
momentous as it is well-engineered!
Sri Umanath Shenoy, ever the humble host, took the stage to express his
gratitude. With a twinkle in his eye, he thanked his fellow members, saying:
"Laughter Yoga has not just kept my spirits high but has kept my health
in check too. If I'm still standing strong at 75, it's because of all the
laughter exercises—though I'm beginning to suspect that some of you secretly do
yoga just for the snacks afterward!"
Wrapping Up with Smiles and Gratitude
The night ended on a high note, with hearty laughs, warm hugs, and promises of many more such celebrations in the future. ABC Laughter Yoga, Manipal, yet again proved that laughter isn't just the best medicine—it's also the best way to celebrate life's milestones. A short video of the programme is given below:
As the members bid farewell, one was overheard saying:
"This was such a joyful evening! Now, let's start planning for the 80th
birthday celebration—just to make sure we have enough time to practice our
laughter drills!"
Here's to more laughter, more birthdays, and many more moments of pure,
unfiltered joy! 🎉😂
