Bengaluru: Happiness spilled over from the street to an adjoining residential community this Sunday, as Happy Streets, an initiative of The Times of India, forayed into the House of Hiranandani (HoH), Bannerghatta Road, Begur hobli, to mark International Day of Happiness (March 23).
What used to be three hours of fun and frolic on a closed stretch of road was for the first time open to a community. The 33-acre campus, with six towers and more than 1,400 residential units, was buzzing with activity at the crack of dawn as vibrant energy lingered in the air.
Residents grooved to Zumba beats by Swingers Dance Inc and enjoyed exciting sports and games organised by Decathlon. Happy faces with smiles echoed through the community during a unique yoga session by Sarvebhavanthu Sukhinah Yoga, while self-defence techniques were demonstrated by experts from OSK Federation of India.
Budding actors explored their talents in a performance workshop by Srinivas Beesetty from Kahe Vidushak Foundation, while storytelling sessions by ACEnovation kept many residents captivated.
The celebration didn’t stop there — residents got their hands dirty with gardening and nursery activities by Make My Garden, learned about their rights with Reclaim Constitution, and picked up life-saving CPR techniques from Alert NGO. Art enthusiasts had a blast with arts and crafts by Anybody Can Draw, pottery sessions, and fun caricature sketches. The event also brought childhood nostalgia to life with classic games such as snakes & ladders and spinning top.
Happy Streets is brought to you by Bhima Jewellers and supported by partners Mahaveer Group, Sundaram Motors, VRR & Co Builders & Developers, Unilet Electronic Stores, and Can Fin Homes Ltd. It is a celebration of happiness, community, and togetherness. The residents of House of Hiranandani, with strong support from Queensgate Apartment Owners Association, experienced a morning of smiles, laughter, and unforgettable moments — for, happiness is best when shared.
CREATING MEMORIES
Indranil Gorai, 37 | president, Queensgate Apartment Owners Association
It was a heart-warming and unforgettable celebration of togetherness, joy, and community spirit. Seeing our HoH streets come alive — not with vehicles, but with laughter, music, dance, and energy — feels good. From the thrill of sports and fitness activities to the creativity of art and music, there was something for everyone across all ages. What made it even more special was the enthusiasm and participation of the entire HoH society
Pranav SV | instructor, OSK Federation of India
It feels great to be part of this event. This was a new and exciting experience for us. We conducted sessions in many areas, but doing it here was special. We’re happy to bring traditional karate to the local community, allowing people to experience it first-hand. Self-defence is essential for everyone, and we’re glad to spread awareness about it
Lakshmi Rajagopalan, 77 | retired teacher
This is my first time attending such an event, as I don’t step out often these days. Listening to music, I came down to see what was happening, but after finding out, I felt compelled to join in and have fun. It was an amazing start to the day. I think events like these in residential complexes are much needed, and they truly bring the community together. Happy Streets is the best, especially for the elderly like me
Nitin Naik, 58 | resident
The idea of hosting such an event is fantastic, as it brings people together and gives them an opportunity to connect, enjoy, and spend quality time with one another. It feels great to be part of such an initiative. What’s good is that it beautifully combines various activities and creates an energetic atmosphere. The beats and activities here are exciting and best to spend time together, strengthening our bonds as a community
Sanjay Gupta, 57 | chartered accountant
The child in us often gets lost in our daily lives, but today, I felt it come alive again. My children have grown up, and after so long, I finally got to have fun playing frisbee. It was wonderful to see neighbours turning into friends. Yoga and Zumba were especially enjoyable — it truly felt like we were all connecting. The sense of community multiplied through this event. Today’s activities and fun we had, we were truly celebrating Happiness Day
Amit Surya, 45 | professional
I’d like to thank TOI for this wonderful initiative. It was heartening to see people of all age groups participating without hesitation. This was my first time trying yoga, and I absolutely loved it — I laughed so much and felt completely de-stressed. The atmosphere was lively, the energy was contagious, and the music even pushed me to step out and join in. In the end, it left me feeling rejuvenated, and the kids had an incredible time as well