The night is alive & so are we

 Jasmine Singh

There are parameters that define the development of a town or city, a happening nightlife is one on the list too. For those of you who are not clear as to what qualifies for nightlife, well, it simply means fun and entertainment at night; it means going out to the bars, night clubs, discotheque, the idea basically is to have fun. We wonder, however, whether the girls of the Tricity get to enjoy this nightlife sans any male accomplice, and if they do, is the city safe enough to handle girls having fun in night, all by themselves?

Girls’ nightlife, fact or myth  

Anyway the Tricity does not have enough options that could be incorporated in the night life, barring a few discotheques, night clubs and lounges; there aren’t any places that are welcoming for women who want to think that they too can have a night life. Mehtab Singh, hotelier gives the example of Ladies Night, but he is also quick to add that even at Ladies Night women prefer to come with a male friend for company. “I don’t think girls or their folks consider late night partying safe. Under this scenario, how can you enjoy nightlife, even if it exists?” Sameer Sandhu, a resident DJ with the F Bar shares the same view. “Over my deejaying career, I’ve played at all leading clubs of Chandigarh, I haven’t seen many all girls’ group party till late. If they come in as a girl gang, more often than always, they are always accompanied by male friends.” 

Mom, I'll be back soon

If a girl informs her parents that she would return late from a party, trust them to stay wide awake like a watchman. Safety of their wards, especially girls is the only concern that makes most parents vehemently turn down any request of enjoying a night life. “I have to answer 8-10 questions each time I go for a late night party,” says Manika Singh, student BCA, SD college, Chandigarh, “How many girls are going with you? Have they informed their parents as well? Where are you going? What time are you coming back? Will there be any male friends along? If yes then how many? Leave your friends number before going,” Manika is almost out of breath listing the questionnaire.  

The irony & more

The irony however is that even with a decent nightlife that the city offers, most girls don’t feel comfortable enjoying it. The ones who stay as paying guests or are the ones staying all by themselves in the city can still breathe easy. Harleen Sethi runs a PG in sector-33 has 16 girls staying in her two-storey house. She doesn’t talk openly about the girls in her PG going for night outs; however she admits that she has often seen their male friends dropping them back. “Why do people enjoy only in night, what about the day life,” Harleen gives the conversation a different direction altogether. 

In case you decide to 

The night party options for girls and boys are almost the same, except that boys still have an edge in this race. So, if you gals decide to have fun in night, here are options that could perk up your night out. F Bar & Lounge, Hops n Grains sector-9 Panchkula, Ooze The Brauhaus, Panchkula, Satva sector-26, Ten Downing Street Lounge, Underdoggs Sports Bar and Grill, Elante, Peddlers Sector-35, Kitty Su, The Lalit. If you want to grab a bite from Aroma or try a dal makhani at any dhaba in Zirakpur, a man, even two in the group ups the safety quotient.

Hands up...It's the police! 

Chandigarh is a relatively safe place, the  problem is of the mind set, we tend to look at a girl partying at night differently as compared to a man. at our end, we try to offer the best safety for women. — Inspector Maninder Singh, officiating in- charge sector-26 

Girls have all the fun 

Even If Chandigarh offers a nightlife for women, I haven't had the privilege of enjoying it. often we have to drag our male friends along.— Akshita Garg, student MA Psychology

I have gone out with my girlfriends a couple of times to Peddlers and Satva, it was fun and safe. Chandigarh has a reasonably good nightlife; girls should Just know how to handle this freedom. — Anupreet Sandhu, Punjabi (Hons) student