October 11 is observed as International Day of the Girl Child, which is also called as Day of Girls, is an international observance day declared by the United Nations. It was seven years ago when this day was observed for the first time. It is observed to recognise and advocate girls’ rights and to acknowledge the challenges they face in day-to-day life. International Day of the Girl Child is also observed to raise awareness about gender equality in society. On the occasion, here are some songs from Bollywood that capture the beauty of girlhood and celebrate its spirit.

Patakha Guddi From Highway

"Patakha Guddi” is a song of freedom, featuring the film’s lead actress Alia Bhatt, who is shown as a strong young woman. Sung by the Nooran sisters, Jyoti and Sultana, this song also shows how girls should be carefree.

Listen to the Song:

Laadki

A girl child is fondly called as “Laadki”. This meaningful song celebrates the bond between a father-daughter duo, and also the journey of a girl growing up to be a woman. Even today, there are girls who hesitate to talk freely with their fathers. This song prompts every girl to step forward and share hearty conversations with their dads and share all their concerns.

Listen to the Song:

 Mardaani Anthem

This was one of the powerful anthems released in 2014 from the film Mardaani, in which Rani Mukerji played the lead. Girls across the globe face various kinds of violence and abuse. But this track celebrates their inherent strength that inspires girls to be strong in the face of adversity.

Listen to the Song:

Badal Pe Paon Hain From Chak De India

Not all girls get the opportunity to fulfil their dreams. However, this movie highlights the fact that even women can excel at sports like men, and also handle responsibilities back at home. The song "Badal Pe Paon Hain" shows what can happen when girls set out to achieve their dreams.

Listen to the Song:

Dilbaro From Raazi

The song "Dilbaro" from Raazi celebrates the beautiful bond between the father and the daughter. The film is based on a young girl's sacrifice for her nation, on her father's request. The song shows her inner strength and determination.

Listen to the Song:

International Day of the Girl Child aims to empower girls by snuffing out gender inequality.  Like Hillary Clinton once said: “Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world”.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 10, 2019 04:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).