Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala on Thursday said it is of utmost importance for a cancer patient to stay positive during the course of the treatment.

Manisha, while addressing a news meet organised by Grameen Sneh Foundation, said: "As far as my experience, when I was diagnosed with cancer, I tried to stay away from people who would say bitter things about the disease. My morale went low whenever I heard such things. I used to read about celebrities who had fought cancer. It was a long period and I had to constantly motivate myself to fight the disease. You have to stay positive in such situations and it indeed helped me in the long run."

Koirala would be sharing her personal experiences with people at the three-day long health and wellness festival, which has been organised by the non-government organisation from January 15 to January 17. Experts in the field of art therapy, healing through music, yoga, naturopathy, ayurveda, art of living, Reiki, laughter therapy, hypnotherapy and dream analysis would be a part of the event.

Grameen Sneh Foundation president Snehamayee Routray is a cancer survivor herself. She has successfully fought breast cancer and is now on a mission to spread awareness regarding the disease.

Koirala said: "Seven months before I was diagnosed with cancer, I had a session with a Maori healer who had detected some problems in my body. The Maori healer told me that something was wrong with my ovary. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer later. The three-day event would be a good platform for cancer patients to interact with doctors and healers from across the country and gather information regarding the disease."

Among the other dignitaries to participate in the event are governor Ram Nath Kovind, Patna High Court acting Chief Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari, Patna Sahib MP and Shatrughan Sinha. Shaan Khattau, a counsellor-cum-documentary filmmaker would also take part in the event.