These Ladies in South India Plan a Big Party for New Years – the Very First in Their Lives!

A small town in southern India will be holding week-long New Year events exclusively for women, urging them for the very first time to break social norms and go out to celebrate – in a move to promote women’s empowerment.

The events, held by the local government in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, will start with an all-night party on December 31^st and is expected to welcome over 2,000 women. Government agencies and charities that help women find jobs or start small businesses have partnered for the events, which are aimed at making cultural and business activities more inclusive to women.

“Only boys celebrated New Year until now. The Christmas to New Year period was meant for them to party,” says Sithara Shahnawaz, 23, to the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “This is the first time I will be out with my friends. I am looking forward to seeing women fulfil their desire without any fear or discomfort. We are all very excited.”

“Women don’t step out here because of tradition or religious customs. Many of them are Muslims. For this event, we are sure they will come out,” says Dileep Kumar, an officer at Perinthalmanna municipality overseeing the event, adding that women had requested a New Year celebration during previous women’s empowerments events in the town.