Mumbai Residents Embrace Modular Origami Workshops for Mindfulness and Connection
Residents across Mumbai, including participants from Worli, are increasingly turning to modular origami workshops as a mindful, creative, and therapeutic pursuit to find calm and community in the bustling city. The trend has seen local professionals and hobbyists gather to learn the intricate Japanese art of paper folding, transforming flat sheets of paper into complex three-dimensional geometric structures.
Tejas Uzgare, who has been conducting origami workshops across Mumbai for the past couple of years, noted a significant surge in local interest, particularly for his origami lamp workshop. Uzgare observed that the interactive sessions offer more than just craft instruction; they provide a space for genuine human connection. According to Uzgare, the workshops allow strangers to gather, bond over learning and discovery, and build a sense of community during the three-hour sessions.
For many participants, the craft offers a nostalgic and meditative escape from daily life. Mrunmaye Math, a local orthodontist who attended a weekend workshop, described origami as her first creative love, which was originally introduced to her by her parents. Math explained that the process of folding paper and giving it form and shape is highly meditative, allowing her to transform a flat piece of paper into a three-dimensional object.
Similarly, Jayshree Savani, a professional abstract artist, shared that her lifelong love for origami drew her back to the craft. Savani noted that she appreciates the organic forms and the transformative process of the paper, adding that even a punishing Mumbai heat wave was not enough to keep her away from the workshop.
Beyond its therapeutic benefits, modular origami also appeals to analytical minds due to the science and geometry involved in interlocking multiple folded units. Foram Khanderia, an engineer whose interest was reignited during a trip to Japan where she saw small origami in every room, pointed out that modular origami goes far beyond simple childhood folded animals and birds, involving a significant amount of science.
Nikita Vaswani, an entrepreneur from Worli, admitted she was initially drawn to the workshop by an Instagram reel that made the craft look simple. While she quickly realized that the process is actually quite complex, requiring precision and patience, she was able to complete her project with the instructor's guidance.
