ETV Bharat / health
NIMHANS, Anil Kapoor And Prashasti Singh Will Talk Mental Wellbeing At Free And Open-To-All Mental Health Festival Manotsava In Bengaluru This December
Manotsava’s third edition brings together science, lived experience and community to make mental health conversations accessible and relevant
Co-host and philanthropist Rohini Nilekani speaking at the 2025 edition of Manotsava (ETV Bharat)
ByETV Bharat Health Team
Published :October 28, 2026 at 11:07 AM IST
Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP), the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) will co-host the third edition of Manotsava, India’s National Mental Health Festival, on December 5 and 6, 2026, at Jayamahal Palace Hotel, Bengaluru
Manotsava brings together science, lived experience and community to make mental health conversations accessible and relevant, while connecting people with the knowledge, rexpert-led panels and keynote conversations, film screenings, workshops, sharing circles, performances and interactive experiences
A dedicated focus on Kannada-language sessionswill help bring mental health conversations to wider audiences and make space for local knowledge, voices and experiences. A children’s zoneis also being curated and will offer read-alouds, sessions with experts and interactive workshops & stalls
The programme will explore themes that touch everyday life, including laughter and the mind; relationships across family, love, sexuality, work and generations; living in today’s world amid AI, technology, stress, sleep and social media; and recovery and healing through grief, caregiving, volunteering and community support
Keynote speakers at the 2025 edition of Manotsava (ETV Bharat)
Speakers at this year’s festival include actor Anil Kapoor, neuroscientist Dr Sophie Scott, comedians Prashasti Singh and Sonu Venugopal, Dr. Shyam Bhatt, Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Paromita Vohra, Dr. Prabha Chandra and Rohini Nilekani, among others
An important part of Manotsava is its emphasis on the power of community in mental health. This edition of the festival brought forward sharing circles as a lead-up to the event. Over 20 sharing circles on topics such as relationships, ageing, caregiving, adoption and more were held in Bengaluru and Delhi across August, September, and October, drawing over 300 attendees. Alongside this, a public photography contest titled Frames of Familiaritywas announced, inviting people to tell a visual story on perspectives. The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2026.
This open and free-for-all festival welcomes people from all walks of life, including students, professionals, caregivers, mental health practitioners, and anyone interested in understanding mental wellbeing
