Kozhikode: The women in Kerala bravely declared that they also have the right to travel at night in public places through the ‘Night Walk’ organised by the Department of Women and Child Development on Nirbhaya Day which falls on December 29. The programme was noted for the huge participation of women from all walks of life.

About 8000 women took part in the ‘Night Walk’ at 250 locations in the state. Most number of women took part from Thrissur district. Night walk was organised in 47 places in Thrissur whereas only two locations were selected in Idukki for night walk.

In other districts, night walks were organised at 23 places in Alappuzha, Kollam-3, Pathanamthitta-12, Palakkad-31, Kozhikode-6, Kannur-15, Malappuram-29, Kottayam-29 and 27 places in Ernakulam. The programme was conducted at all district headquarters of all and other selected places.

In Thiruvananthapuram, 22 places witnessed night walk. Manaveeyam Veethi was the main spot. Department of Social Justice secretary Biju Prabhakar, Director of Women and Child Development T V Anupama and Nirbhaya Cell state coordinator Sabeena led the night walk.

Women taking oath holding candles during the Night Walk at Kozhikode. (Photo: Sambhu V S)

The night walk in Kozhikode was organised with the cooperation of Shadow Police and other departments from 11 pm on Sunday to 1 am on Monday in four areas;

Kozhikode railway station bus stop-SM Street-SK Pottekkatt Statue-Crown Theatre-Town Hall-Income Tax office-SBI building-BEM School-Mananchira

Kozhikode mofussil bus stand-Mavoor road-KSRTC stand-Mananchira

Railway Station-Link road-MCC bank-Palayam-Mananchira

Beach-Corporation Office-Tagore Hall-CH flyover-Mananchira

Participants of Night Walk in Palakkad join near Anchuvilakku. (Photo: Arun Krishnankutty)

The participants of night walk included Sadiya who came holding her three-month-old baby, Jamsheela who travelled all the way from Wayanad to Kozhikode to take part in the walk and Fidha who claimed that those who did not come for night walk really missed it. The women joyfully walked waving their hands, clicking selfies and chatting with friends incessantly.

The walk ended in front of the statue of S K Pottekkatt. Soon after it concluded, the women performed various art forms including Oppana and folk song. When elderly women sang old Malayalam songs on one side, college girls shook a leg to rapid numbers on the other side.

Night Walk at Kottayam. (Photo: EV Ragesh)

After the performances, the women took an oath lighting candles. Kozhikode District Women and Child Development Committee officer Anita Eslin administered the oath. Many women including MLAs U Prathibha, CK Asha, writer KR Meera, film editor Beena Paul and dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi took part in the night walk organised in other parts of the state.