In Pics: Celebrations and demands mark Women's Day

New Delhi, March 9: On International Women's Day, there were an array of events organised across the country. While some women attended programmes organised for them, others got together to stage protests to demand for basic rights. With crimes rates soaring, women demanded for changes in laws to protect their rights.

Social networking sites were abuzz with posts. Some posts on Twitter were

Chetan Bhagat ‏@chetan_bhagat: Dear ladies, more than anything, today is about all of you dreaming big. Achieve your maximum. Your day, your life. Happy Women's Day.

zarina mehta ‏@zarinamehta: We are strong enough to run a home, an office and a nation if need be. Happy Women's Day to all.

On Facebook the messages included his Life has no existence without a woman in every stage of life starting from Motherhood to Sister, Wife & finally a Daughter. Respect Her! She is a Woman!Happy Women's Day !! Stay Beautiful! Stay Precious! :)

To those who make life beautiful... Your day, women :)

A girl performs during an event on the occasion of International Women's Day at a college in Mumbai on Friday.

School girls learn self defence skills from a police woman on the occasion of International Women's Day in Mumbai on Friday.

Girls perform during an event on the occasion of International Women's Day at a college in Mumbai on Friday.

Girls perform 'malakhamb' during an event on the occasion of International Women's Day at a college in Mumbai on Friday.

Pakistani women receive charity food for their families at the Bari Imam shrine in Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday, March 8, 2013. Rallies held in different cities to demonstrate the International Women's Day, demanding freedom and equal rights.

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Rani Lakshmibai Award of 'Stree Shakti Puraskar 2012' to 'Spirit of Nirbhaya' on International Women's Day in New Delhi on Friday.

President Pranab Mukherjee presents Rani Rudramma Devi Award of 'Stree Shakti Puraskar 2012' to Pranita Talukdar of Assam on International Women's Day in New Delhi on Friday.

President Pranab Mukherjee meeting with the members of Indian Women's Press Corps on the occasion of International Women's Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday.

Actress Karishma Kapur with winners of the Indian Princess beauty contest on the occasion of International Women's Day in Mumbai on Friday night.

Women activists vandalise a hoarding during a protest against Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit near Talkatora Stadium where she was attending a function celebrating International Women's Day in New Delhi on Friday.

Sex workers take part in a rally to mark International Women's Day in Kolkata on Friday.

Actress Mrinal Dev Kulkarni participates in Samanvay rally on the occasion of International Women's Day in Thane, Mumbai on Friday.

Women activists raise slogans against Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit near Talkatora Stadium where she was attending a function celebrating International Women's Day in New Delhi on Friday.