Happiness Journey begins in Dubai

A huge crowd gathered and cheered on for the participants of the parade.-Photo by Shihab

One of the newest and usually quieter neighbourhood of Dubai (City Walk) came alive with  music and dance performances as the city started its five-day Happiness Journey event in a run up to the International Day of Happiness (which falls on March 20).
The Journey of Happiness commenced with an opening carnival on Thursday, at 5pm at Future Street in City Walk in Dubai, with the participation of more than 2,000 people of 200 nationalities living in the UAE. The carnival had participants of all ages and nationalities showcasing their culture through a variety of dances, music and other performances as they walked up and down the street.
A huge crowd gathered and cheered on for the participants of the parade as they walked with smiles on their faces and with placards carrying happy messages such as 'Be inspired', 'Stay positive stay happy'.
Emirati girls Ameera and her friend Haya, who had come to watch the happiness parade, were thrilled with the performances. "It was amazing to see our policemen and women parade the street on horses and bikes. And our local Emirati band also played so well. They not only entertained us but also made us proud. The happiness parade reflected the great diversity in the UAE community, and also was a brilliant way of promoting the UAE as an international hub for happiness," Ameera told Khaleej Times.
The second phase of the Happiness Journey, under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, is aimed at supporting the UAE's efforts to achieve a better quality of life for the whole community. The activities of the journey will culminate with the celebration of the International Day of Happiness on Tuesday and are free for the public to attend from 4pm to 10pm at Dubai Design District.
A Dubai-based couple from the UK, Lynn and Paul, had come down to City Walk for a haircut and were pleasantly surprised to see a huge happy crowd gathered there. "It is nice to see City Walk busy. I have never seen it so lively. It was amazing how people from the happiness parade came up to us with smiles and offered us free candies, balloons and sharing a happy message saying 'Let's share, smile and be happy'. What a fantastic event. We are lucky to be here in the UAE."
The Happiness Journey focuses on five themes: Mental health, physical health, emotional health, food and arts. The events include a series of unique experiences that will enable the visitors to the Dubai Design District to test practical and fun applications of concepts, principles and theories in the field of happiness science and quality of life.
Themes of the Journey
> Mental health
> Physical health
> Emotional health
> Food
> Arts
saman@khaleejtimes.com