The rush of wind as the parasail rose into the air. The spray of the Arabian Sea against sun-warmed skin. The splash as the boat pushed off toward an island accessible only at low tide. The excitement of exploring unfamiliar shores… For 25 young women of District 318E, this was a day that nudged them beyond the familiar and into experiences that were both new and exhilarating.
It also began with one woman taking the first leap.
As Reeja Gupta, Cabinet Secretary for Image & Empowerment, took the first parasailing flight over the blue waters of Muzhappilangad, she not only set the tone for the day but also brought this year’s theme — Women on Wings — to life.
Organized under District 318E’s flagship Stree Shakti and Yuva Shakti initiatives in association with the National Adventure Foundation, the one-day adventure camp ‘Sky Hunt… Wings & Waves… Pure Adventure’ was held at the iconic Muzhappilangad Beach in Kannur, along Kerala’s northern coast.
The setting couldn’t have been more apt. Stretching over four kilometres along the Arabian Sea, Asia’s longest drive-in beach offered an expansive landscape of firm golden sand and open skies — a natural backdrop to a day that was less about the activities themselves and more about what those experiences unlocked.
“Adventure sports don’t just test your limits — they expand them,” Reeja Gupta said. “When a woman takes that leap, whether from the sand or the sky, she discovers a confidence that carries into every area of life.”
And as the day unfolded, that spirit became increasingly visible. From parasailing and paragliding to beach driving and a boat crossing to Dharmadam Island, participants found themselves stepping into experiences many were attempting for the very first time. Hesitation gradually gave way to excitement, and uncertainty to a growing sense of confidence. Each challenge was designed under strict safety protocols to push boundaries while building trust, leadership, and self-belief among women and youth.
District Governor Ravi Gupta, who presided over the closing ceremony, reflected on the deliberate choice of venue. Muzhappilangad, he noted, is not simply scenic — its drive-in shoreline represents progress paired with freedom, while Dharmadam Island, reachable only by stepping beyond the familiar, stands as a reminder that growth often lies just outside the comfort zone. Invited guest Adv. Preethi Parambath praised the use of adventure as a tool for empowerment, recognizing its capacity to build community confidence and inspire the next generation.
The camp was spearheaded by Nizam Palliyal, District Coordinator for Women Empowerment and New Voices, and Safar Ahamad, Director of the National Adventure Foundation, with support from Dr. Suja Vinod, Dr. Meethu Manoj, Sandhya Raja, Adv. Dainy Rashil, Prashanthi, Safreena, and Sajeev Maniyath. A beachside car rally led by Dr. Anitha Dileep added another burst of energy to the proceedings.
The day concluded with a kite-flying ceremony on the beach walkway. Children and Lions members sent colorful kites skyward together, each one carrying, as the organizers put it, messages of confidence, courage, and women’s empowerment into the Malabar breeze.
Conceptualized by Reeja Gupta and executed by District 318E, Sky Hunt made one idea clear: when women take flight, the communities around them rise too.