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Photos: Managing illnesses through palliative ‘Clowncare’ in Delhi

A red nose, a coloured wig, and a medical clown, replacing the big top for a hospital ward, men and women of varying ages clown around, dressed in colourful frills and ruffles dancing and prancing as they look for smiles in the aisles. They are the Clownselors, a group of volunteers who are out to tell us that clowning around can be more than just fun. It can also be therapeutic, helping the young and old deal with the stresses and pain of their illnesses.

Updated on: Jul 24, 2019 10:02 AM IST

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A clownselor in action at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya. Clownselors are a group of volunteer clowns. These ‘clown carers’ in cities such as Delhi and Bengaluru visit hospitals to de-stress children and help them with their healing process through humour as part of clown therapy. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 10:02 AM

A clownselor in action at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya. Clownselors are a group of volunteer clowns. These ‘clown carers’ in cities such as Delhi and Bengaluru visit hospitals to de-stress children and help them with their healing process through humour as part of clown therapy. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

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They are part of the increasing trend of ‘clown carers’ in cities such as Delhi and Bengaluru who spread cheer and dispel the gloom of ill health and old age. Every weekend, the Delhi-based Clownselors heads to a hospital, old age home or medical centre to perk up the place with their antics. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 10:02 AM

They are part of the increasing trend of ‘clown carers’ in cities such as Delhi and Bengaluru who spread cheer and dispel the gloom of ill health and old age. Every weekend, the Delhi-based Clownselors heads to a hospital, old age home or medical centre to perk up the place with their antics. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

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On a recent Saturday, the Clownselors were at the cancer ward of the Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya. As they danced, made faces, fell over each other and performed various other antics, 14-month-old Shivam Pandey’s big round eyes followed one clown with a red nose, pink wig and a sock puppet in her hand. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 10:02 AM

On a recent Saturday, the Clownselors were at the cancer ward of the Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya. As they danced, made faces, fell over each other and performed various other antics, 14-month-old Shivam Pandey’s big round eyes followed one clown with a red nose, pink wig and a sock puppet in her hand. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

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A clownselor entertains a child-patient. “We have been here for the last five months and they come every Saturday. The mood of the entire ward changes when they are here. It also distracts from the depressing environment,” said Shivam’s mother, adding that it helps her de-stress as well. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 10:02 AM

A clownselor entertains a child-patient. “We have been here for the last five months and they come every Saturday. The mood of the entire ward changes when they are here. It also distracts from the depressing environment,” said Shivam’s mother, adding that it helps her de-stress as well. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

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Sheetal Agarwal, the founder of Clownselors, said it all started in 2016 when she saw medical clowns in Baroda. The wish to be a reason for someone else’s smile took root and inspired her to take on the persona of a clown. She grew up watching a lot of circus and clowns but had never heard of medical clowns. So she saw a few videos, and also the Robin Williams’ movie ‘Patch Adams.’ (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 10:02 AM

Sheetal Agarwal, the founder of Clownselors, said it all started in 2016 when she saw medical clowns in Baroda. The wish to be a reason for someone else’s smile took root and inspired her to take on the persona of a clown. She grew up watching a lot of circus and clowns but had never heard of medical clowns. So she saw a few videos, and also the Robin Williams’ movie ‘Patch Adams.’ (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

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The Hollywood film, which also inspired Rajkumar Hirani’s “Munna Bhai MBBS,” is based on the life story of American doctor-comedian Patch Adams, arguably the first person to have come up with the alternative treatment model of clown therapy, or clown care. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 10:02 AM

The Hollywood film, which also inspired Rajkumar Hirani’s “Munna Bhai MBBS,” is based on the life story of American doctor-comedian Patch Adams, arguably the first person to have come up with the alternative treatment model of clown therapy, or clown care. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

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“It is well known that humour helps biological systems and immune responses... There is evidence that humour and laughter therapy can affect both internal and external aspects, biological as well as psychological.” This is demonstrated when Agarwal and her six volunteer clowns enter the room. When they exit after their performance, they leave behind smiling faces and diminished stress levels. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 10:02 AM

“It is well known that humour helps biological systems and immune responses... There is evidence that humour and laughter therapy can affect both internal and external aspects, biological as well as psychological.” This is demonstrated when Agarwal and her six volunteer clowns enter the room. When they exit after their performance, they leave behind smiling faces and diminished stress levels. (Ravi Choudhary / PTI)

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