Jiniya Chatterjee, a resident of Mumbai, has emerged victorious in Wakefit’s fifth Sleep Internship, securing a prize of ₹9.6 lakh and a sponsored vacation. The 60-day competition, organized by the home and furnishing company Wakefit, challenged participants to prioritize sleep and engage in creative tasks.
Chatterjee was selected as the winner from an initial pool of over two lakh applicants across India, ultimately beating three other finalists. Her success was attributed to maintaining consistent sleep scores and excelling in various weekly challenges designed to promote healthy rest routines.
A Unique Approach to Wellness
The Sleep Internship program required participants to sleep for approximately nine hours daily, adhere to regular sleep schedules, and meticulously track their sleep patterns. Daily sleep scores determined their standing on a leaderboard throughout the competition, emphasizing the importance of disciplined rest.
Beyond just sleeping, finalists engaged in several innovative challenges. These included “Sleep Cinema,” where participants recreated famous movie scenes with a sleep-related twist, and “Sleep Bingo,” which involved tracking personal sleeping habits over a week. Another quirky task, the “Undercover Sleep Mission,” tested contestants’ ability to subtly incorporate words like “blanket” or “pillow” into conversations.
The Grand Finale and Winner Selection
The competition culminated in a grand finale featuring two major challenges. The “Memory Foam Challenge” required finalists to recreate a bedroom arrangement from memory, testing observation and teamwork skills. The final task, the “Sleep Auction,” saw contestants bidding with points for elements of their ideal sleeping environment, such as pillows, blankets, and control over lighting and sound.
At the conclusion of the 60-day period, Jiniya Chatterjee achieved the highest overall sleep score, earning her the title of India’s “Sleep Champion.” Her impressive performance across both sleep discipline and creative challenges led to her significant cash prize and vacation.
Wakefit's Growing Campaign
Launched in 2019, the Wakefit Sleep Internship has become a highly recognized promotional campaign for the company. Across its first four seasons, the program reportedly attracted over 10 lakh applications, with 65 interns previously receiving stipends of ₹1 lakh each. The initiative continues to highlight the importance of restful sleep through engaging and competitive means.