Goa, the city of beautiful beaches, churches and Portuguese culture is now laughing its way to good health. Yes, it has two laughter clubs, one on Miramar beach, Panaji and another at Monte Hill in Margao.

There were many enquiries in the past to open a Laughter Club, but nothing materialised.

The credit goes to Mr. Sancoalkar, the brain behind the Fitness Walking Club, Miramar, Panaji. Formed on 19th December 1906, this club has 100 dedicated morning walkers. Mr. Joe Antao, an exporter from Mumbai was instrumental in introducing Dr. Madan Kataria, the Founder President of the Laughter Club International to Mr. Sancoalkar and after that everything was easy. A team of four experts from Mumbai, namely, Dr. Madan Kataria, Madhuri Kataria, Pushpa Goenka and P.T.Hinduja arrived at Goa on 10th May, 1997.

The first demonstration and training session as scheduled started at Monte Hill, Margao at 7 p.m. on 10th May 1997. There was a gathering of more than 150 people, most of them the members of the Siddh Samadha Yoga (SSY). This organisation consists of young, enthusiastic health conscious people under the leadership of Dr. Tamba, a qualified physician. The dais was decorated with a banner right in front of a beautiful church on a hill top -- Monte Hill -- and the valley was full of flowers. Sharp at 7 pm, the church bell rang and the laughter therapy session began.

This training session lasted for one-and-a-half hours and the response from participants was tremendous. It appeared as if they already were expert laughologists. They had a yoga background and were from a well-disciplined organisation. In the evening, we enjoyed a Goan dinner at a SSY member's residence.

Next morning, at 7 am, the people started pouring in and there was a massive crowd of more than 300 at Miramar Beach. Thanks goes to the organizers -- Fitness Walking Club -- who did the publicity well in advance through leading newspapers of Goa. The talk and demonstration started at 7 am and it was liked by one and all. It was attended by people from all age groups.

Due to overcrowding, one little girl's foot fell upon a dog which started yelping, which made the poor girl faint. But, after a few minutes, she was laughing anyway.

This event was covered by the local Doordarshan and newspaper. One of the lady members of the Laughter Club of Lokhandwala, Mumbai, was also present at the opening. She happens to be a Goan and was holidaying.

This function was a grand success and everybody enjoyed the therapy. For the rest of the day, the laughing team was taken around Goa to see old churches and other tourist places, by Dr. Helecar with his warm and personal touch.

The most interesting place we visited was Mr. Dande's residence. As you enter, you see a bell hanging from a beautifully curved panel. Dr. Dande's name plate is fitted in designed metal. No sooner you step in, than you marvel at the landscaping of a lotus pool with fish and water lilies, a water fall, rocks, beautiful plants, flowers and velvet grass. No wonder that you don't feel like leaving the beauty of this dreamland! What's more, Dande himself has been building the house over the last five years. In the compound there's a lovely greenhouse where he has a wonderful nursery too.

In the evening at 7 pm, a talk by Dr. Kataria was organized at the Indian Medical Association of Bardez and a dinner was hosted.

Special thanks from Laughter Club International goes out to Joe Antao, who sponsored the air tickets. We are thankful to V.D.Kamat, who sponsored the accommodation for the visiting team. We appreciate the assistance given by Vijay Hede, R.G.Pandarkar, Y.P.Bir and Salalkar who helped a lot of make this function a success.

Lastly we have no words to express our gratitude and thanks to Sancoalkar and Dr. Ananda Helekar, who took a lot a lot of pains to make the function memorable. Their job is not yet over, they are committed to the cause and are capable of opening many such clubs all over Goa and surrounding areas.

Last week, Sancoalkar called up from Goa informing that the clubs are going great guns and everyday new members are joining. Now what their plans are for the monsoons remains to be seen. But the enthusiasm is great, the efforts are sincere and we, the members of Laughter Club International, wish them best of luck.

Anyone who wishes to join the Laughter Club or wants to open a new club at Goa, please contact: