In Nandwal it was unthinkable for women/girls to perform garbha dance in public

[Rituu B. Nanda]

It was men and boys who occupied cultural space during festivals. Avani, Global for Children partner in Kolhapur, Maharashtra (India), facilitated a process of reflection through the SALT approach, where adolescents, women, men, and mothers-in-law  realized their inner power but also the strengths in others which helped them to build a common dream, conduct self-assessment and action plan.

Women had a deep  desire to dance garba, a traditional group dance, performed during the Navratri festival. Mothers-in-law, who restrict mobility of their daughters-in-law and grand daughters disclosed that they too had once longed for such participation in their youth, but had been denied. They do not want to repeat this anymore. SALT has given them confidence and SALT conversation in a group has strengthened the relationship between the daughters-in-laws and mothers-in-laws. Now mothers-in-laws realized that they could not achieve their dreams when they were young, so now they are encouraging their daughters-in-laws to step out. SALT masculinity conversations with men and boys is building a supportive environment. 

In Oct 2025, women, girls, & mothers-in-laws finished household tasks by evening. Mothers-in-law generally do not help in household chores and therefore during festivals the entire household burden falls on the women but this time all the household work was done together. For the first time, women, girls and mothers-in-law gathered in a public space from 9 to 12 am, dancing garba together. 

Takeaway: When women recognized their own power and their families began to see it too,  a shift occurred in patriarchal bargain. Women disrupted the gendered politics of public space. Through garba, performed at night, they not only asserted their right to joy but also reclaimed night time hours traditionally considered unsafe for women. Am delighted to see  the multi-generational solidarity. This I hope will pave the way for more equitable spaces for the next generation girls.

PS:thanks to Dr Kausar who suggested I add the term patriarchal bargain.

Thanks to Jayshri from whom I learned about the above change. 

[Bayazid Bostami]

In Kolhapur, women have built multi generational unity through the SALT approach and reclaimed their right to public space and pleasure by breaking traditional gender norms by dancing Garba at night. This solidarity of mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law is truly inspiring. Thanks for Sharing Rituu