Under the chhaupadi practice, women are banned from taking part in normal family activities during menstruation and after childbirth, and can have no contact with men of the household. Practice of isolating women during their period exists across the country in differing forms. The situation of women living at the rural areas is terrible.They are also forbidden from touching other people (especially male members of the family or neighbours) or cattle and from growing fruit and vegetables. Women become untouchable.
The number of health-related problems such as itching, excessive bleeding and vaginal infections is rising because of village girls and women are not having knowledge of proper sanitary practices, which cause more health problems,but nobody is concerned towards these issues.
With this in mind, let us look at some of the common menstrual practices;
1.Not attending religious functions, visiting the temple and not touching menstruating women
2.Avoiding cooking and eating with others during menstruation
3.Avoiding sex during menstruation
4.Avoid swimming or washing the hair during menstruation
5.Avoid eating certain types of food during menstruation
6.Believing that menstrual blood is impure
7.Taking time off during menstruation
8.Restricting menstruating women to seclusion huts
The practice, usually found in illiterate and poor communities, is centuries old and honors the myth that if menstruating women are not restricted in their activities they will anger the Hindu goddesses. For example, there’s a belief that if a menstruating girl touches any books, Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of education, will be angry.
However,Nepal's government has criminalized an ancient Hindu practice that ostracizes women from their houses during menstruation. It was just my small initaitive to continue and further its mission to improve the world for female teens and whoever concerned by being vocal about this evil practices.
