3 Homegrown Collectives That Are Helping Adults Rediscover The Joy Of Play

Play is necessary, whether you're 10 years old playing Capture the Flag in your apartment complex or you're 20 years old yelling at your roommate as you tackle an insanely competitive game of Catan. It wakes up your mind but also helps it rest, and most importantly, keeps you sane. Play also forges deeper friendships because, to be entirely honest, I would want to be nowhere else but with my roommate on a Saturday afternoon as we sit in our hall solving our 1,000-piece puzzle.

And play is a spectrum. It can be anything from playing a game of pickup basketball to spending an evening watercolouring with your friends. I think that's the best part about it, it can simply be anything you want it to be. And we're increasingly seeing people try to find more "sober" hangouts to do in the middle of the week, where they can relax and spend some time either with themselves or their friends, because adults need to play too.

Here are some collectives across the country holding workshops, events, and pop-ups for you to have some fun and let your imagination run amok in whichever direction it wants to.

Holding events across Bengaluru and Chennai, the Eleven AM Club feels like it's meant to immediately put you at ease. They host a series of meetups called "After Hours," held twice a month on a Wednesday at 7 p.m., where anybody can come and just unwind in the middle of the week. Whether you paint, start that project you've been meaning to, or just play cards with your friends, this space and time is for you to find your peace and calm in the buzz of the week. Other than After Hours, they also organise other events like "Slow Sundays," helping you ease into the week by doing everything from making maps to writing blackout poems. Slow down at the Eleven AM Club and follow them here to catch their next event. Follow them here to unwind from your week.

Based out of Pune, Here&How is all about finding and rediscovering "playful things". They post prompts and questions on their Instagram that make you take a break from your usual doomscroll and actually be curious. They even give out a "Prescription for Play", suggesting things you can do in your week to infuse it with a little more childlike fun and imagination, like going on an alphabet walk or spending an entire minute complimenting yourself. They also host events like 'Hello Stranger', where you can make new friends without any inhibitions. Follow them on Instagram for your daily reminder to touch some grass.

Sorted Nagar, an initiative by Studio Sorted, is all about bringing playful but edgy experiences to Bangalore. Their Weekend Print Club invites you to pick a design, bring your own clothes, and print it on right then and there, walking away with something entirely your own. They've also hosted pop-ups in collaboration with Bangalore's favourite cafes like Juny's turning ordinary weekends into something a little more special. One of their standout events was an analogue walk, where participants wandered through the city armed with film cameras. Follow them here to keep up with their upcoming events.

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