Mumbai:In a society that often discourages displays of vulnerability, a quiet movement is taking root across India’s cities: crying clubs. Inspired by Japan’s practice of Ruikatsu, literally “tear-seeking”, these gatherings are opening doors to people who wish to release their emotions in a safe, non-judgmental setting.
Mumbai is the latest to join the trend, with a “Cry Club” launched in Khar, while Delhi and Bengaluru have seen similar initiatives. Surat has hosted a “Healthy Crying Club” since 2017, and in Hyderabad, informal “vulnerability circles” are bringing people together to share tears as a form of healing.
Inside a Crying Club
At Mumbai’s new club, the format is simple. Participants meet in a calm, welcoming space, with soft music, tea, and tissues at hand. There are no expectations and no demands to explain one’s feelings.
Crying, venting, and even hugging are welcomed. The emphasis is on listening, not fixing. Attendees are encouraged to come as they are and leave lighter.Organisers say such spaces offer something increasingly rare in modern life: permission to be openly emotional.
The roots of the idea lie in Japan, where entrepreneur Hiroki Terai launched Ruikatsu sessions in 2013 after observing that people felt better after crying. Sessions often featured emotional films, heartfelt stories, or letters designed to move participants to tears.
Sometimes guided by tear therapists, the practice spread as a wellness trend, normalising tears as part of self-care. That concept is now resonating in India, where cultural expectations around restraint have long shaped how emotions are expressed.
Why Tears Matter
Scientists say crying provides real physiological benefits. Emotional tears contain stress hormones, and shedding them helps the body process and release tension. Psychologists note that crying is not a sign of weakness but of authenticity, helping people confront grief, disappointment, and longing.
For a country where men are often told not to cry, and women are urged to do so only in private, crying clubs represent a small but significant cultural shift. Crying in front of strangers is not easy, organisers admit, but that vulnerability is what makes the practice meaningful. Each session becomes an act of release, a chance to translate unspoken pain into something visible and shared.
