Just a few days after we returned from a whirlwind 10-day trip to Syangja, the whole Pyari team was exhausted but buzzing with excitement. Tired? Yes. But eager for the next challenge. We’re always thinking of ways to push boundaries, specially in the initial stage, and this time, we wanted to do something different—something intimate yet impactful.

At Pyari, we believe that change doesn’t just come from the ground up. Sometimes, it starts in the center, rippling outward. I remember learning about this in one of my classes at Wesleyan, where we studied how environmental movements often began in cities, sending positive shockwaves to the outskirts. So we thought, why not try this with our work? We had already launched Pyari with our amazing public art campaign in the city, but this time we wanted to go deeper. We wanted an event that would touch people’s hearts and spark meaningful conversations on all levels.

Enter the Intimate Creative Workshop—a cozy, reflective gathering where we invited creatives and celebrities to dive into their own menstrual journeys. Mahek, our partnerships lead, worked her magic to pull together an incredible lineup. Honestly, none of this would’ve been possible without her; she even flew back from India just to help pull the strings for the event. Our goal with this event was to curate a safe, intimate space where participants could explore aspects of menstruation that they may have never even considered before. Spoiler alert: We did just that!

With our connections, we reached out to about 20 influencers and creatives. It was exciting but also challenging. Who would say yes? Who would resonate with our vision? Thankfully, we ended up with an incredible roster of participants: Shilpa Maskey, actor; Zenisha Moktan, storyteller and Miss Nepal 2009; Trisha Sakya, content creator; Abhaya Subba Weise, singer-songwriter; and Parijita Bastola, top 8 finalist from The Voice America 2022.

Next came the logistics—the space. We wanted every detail to speak to the experience we were trying to create. After some brainstorming and help from our networks, we landed the perfect spot: the exhibition space at Taragaon Next. The infamous round windows at Taragaon along with the brick walls added a unique, intimate touch, and we knew it was the place.

But space wasn’t everything; we had to design the experience too. Our Pinterest boards were overflowing with ideas. Red hues dominated our vision—red flowers, red food, red everything. We wanted to make it immersive, so we created a charcuterie board that included grapes, plums, and titaura mocktails. At 9 p.m., we were in Bhatbhateni getting everything we could for our charcuterie board and mocktails. We didn’t stop there. We were running through New Road for last-minute fabrics and through hardware stores to borrow saws to cut up metal wires at midnight. But the real magic came from DIY touches. We handmade life-sized flowers, borrowed shawls from our mothers for table decor, and crafted menstrual bracelets—literally burning our hands with hot glue guns at 4 a.m. The energy was electric.

The heart of the event was the workshop itself, where we fused art and crafts with menstrual education. From designing menstrual characters to creating menstrual cycle bracelets, every activity was crafted to reflect and deepen participants’ understanding of their own experiences. Our workshop was made even more special by the presence of Ayushi Kedia Agrawal, the founder of Abeer Pre School and Grooming Tales, a pioneer in child education and early development. Ayushi’s expertise goes beyond traditional education—she focuses on holistic development, blending emotional intelligence and creative expression into her work with children and adults alike. Her unique approach made her the perfect facilitator for our intimate workshop.

One of the standout moments of the workshop was during the menstrual character design activity, where Ayushi di encouraged participants to visualize their periods as characters with personalities and traits. It wasn’t just about assigning a face to menstruation but exploring how it feels and how it fits into our lives. Her gentle prompts led to creative, surprising interpretations—like Trisha’s menstrual character, Mushu, who guided Mulan on her journey; similarly, Trisha felt her menstrual cycle shaped her day-to-day life and influenced how she interacted with the world.

Ayushi di also facilitated our deeply intimate letter-writing workshop, where participants were invited to write letters to someone who had impacted their menstrual journey. She guided us in turning what could have been a simple exercise into a profound exploration of gratitude and personal growth. Her thoughtful questions—“Who has supported you in your hardest moments?” “What have you learned from your menstrual experiences that you’d like to share?”—allowed us to tap into emotions we hadn’t fully processed before. One moment that stuck with me was when Abhaya didi shared a letter she had penned to all the people who had ever given her a pad when she was in need—a simple yet powerful gesture of gratitude. It was so raw and honest that it made all of us pause and reflect on our own similar experiences.

Throughout the day, Ms. Agrawal’s intuitive guidance allowed each participant to dig deep into their memories, emotions, and relationships with menstruation. Her ability to create a nurturing, judgment-free space for reflection and expression was truly the backbone of the event. She not only helped participants uncover insights about their own journeys but also connected these insights to broader themes of empowerment and understanding.

We wrapped up the day with interviews, photo sessions, and some heartfelt conversations that we’ll carry with us as we continue our work. Our friend Thibeaux, who flew all the way from the U.S., helped us capture these beautiful moments, ensuring they’ll be a part of Pyari’s story for years to come.

This workshop wasn’t just an event—it was the beginning of something bigger. It was a reminder that meaningful change starts with intimate, personal conversations, and we’re excited to see how the ripples of this gathering will continue to spread.

This was just the beginning.