A video recorded by a woman in Kochi during Onam celebrations has gone viral, showing a man allegedly staring at her chest while seated beside her on a bus. The woman, dressed in a traditional white and gold Kerala saree with a red blouse, shared the clip online, saying her experience proved that “dress is never part of the problem.”

In the footage, the man is seen repeatedly looking at her despite her confronting gaze. She later stated that she confronted him directly and also filed a complaint. Sharing her experience, the woman added that while many social media users supported her, some attempted to blame her clothing.

Her second video explained that about 80% of the responses backed her, but 20% criticised her attire. “I was returning from an Onam function in traditional dress. The man was about my father’s age. I confronted him, and that’s when he got up and left,” she said.

The incident has triggered strong reactions online. Several users commented that harassment is not about what a woman wears, pointing out that the man’s behaviour was clear in the video. Others expressed concern about continued victim-blaming, saying her action of recording and exposing the incident was the “smart thing to do.”

The case highlights ongoing concerns over women’s safety in public transport and the persistence of victim-shaming attitudes, even when evidence of harassment is made public.