Thiruvananthapuram city to host ‘Freedom at Midnight’ women-only street event
It has been a while since women in the city came together to own a public space, reclaim the street, and.celebrate themselves. At the stroke
It has been a while since women in the city came together to own a public space, reclaim the street, and.celebrate themselves. At the stroke of midnight on August 14 as the nation celebrates its hard-achieved freedom, women in the city too will celebrate having one public road to themselves for three hours without any apprehensions about safety, traffic or horns, or staying out late.
The Women and Child Development department’s ‘Freedom at Midnight’ is a free entry women-only event where women of all ages can come together informally and become participants – walking, playing, singing, dancing, performing, shopping, and eating. The government-led, community-driven initiative will not have any VIP dias, lamp-lighting, or a programme sheet to sit through. The street will be handed over to women, no dress code required or invitation required.
There’s something for everyone – walking the street at night; street games, chalk courts, skipping ropes, kabaddi lines, cycling stretches; open floor for drum circles, Oppana, Thiruvathira, hip-hop; open mic for music, poetry, stand-up, theatre, and spoken word; story wall; night market where women entrepreneurs will put up jewellery, handloom, crafts, food, and other stalls; and food stall run by women-led enterprises and self-help groups.
The security, coordination, volunteering and stall management inside the zone will all be handled by women. The stretch of city street chosen for the initiative will be closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the programme, with re-routing coordinated with the traffic police. For details on participation, volunteering, and sponsorship, call 7907112181 or email dirwcdkerala@gmail.com
The BriefWire