Women and music festivals: A song for safety

Big music acts may be coming to India. But it’s still unsafe to attend gigs here. It’s worse still for women. Organisers, are you listening?

Ready? Eight-hour cab ride to the venue: Booked. WhatsApp group just for those attending: Set up. Phone: Fully charged. Sunscreen: In a travel-friendly stick. And yet, security-checks at music festivals in India have a way of ruining an Indian woman’s prep. Guards confiscate their trusty cannisters of pepper spray at the gates.

AR Rahman’s Chennai gig in September saw a stampede-like situation. (Instagram/@mkycollective)

In August, when Beyonce’s gig was delayed, she paid the City $100,000 to extend operating hours at Metro stations, so fans could return home safely. In India, most gigs have yet to find ways to let women fans know they matter. (instagram/@beyonce)