The scene has undergone a drastic change with at least 90 laughter clubs running in Eastern India which boasts of a 10,000 strong band of loyalists. The members of the Laughing Academy of Eastern India, an umbrella organisation of 90 laughter clubs, organised a seminar and a cultural function to observe the “World Laughter Day” on Sunday, which was attended by the members from states like Assam and Tripura.

Almost all the parks in north, south and central Kolkata, without exception, have a laughter club where the residents gather for a hearty laugh in the morning. There are around 6,000 members associated with the 50 odd laughter clubs of Kolkata, of which almost 80 per cent are women.

“In places like Barasat, there are at least six laughter clubs. We started our club with seven members but gradually the number multiplied to 250,” said Swapan Kumar Kar, the President, All India Laughing Academy.

The members adhere to a rather strict module constituting a three phase “laughing exercises” early each morning. “This daily dose of half an hour of laughter is a great stress buster. The healing effects of laughter therapy are a proven fact,” said Jyotirmoy Sengupta, a senior member of the academy.