MENSTRUATION -- A Taboo to society

MENSTRUATION - A Taboo to Society

Me, dad and mom were going to visit my nani's house in Orissa the next day. I was so excited and happy. I was already done with my packing and was teasing my brother as he was having his exams, so he was not coming with us. Meanwhile at evening, dad and mom were going to market to buy some stuffs. I went to take a bath , and there it was!!! I got my first periods!! I was so sad. Firstly, I was confused whether it was menstrual blood or something else. I washed my clothes and went downstairs. I decided not to tell anyone anything. But I couldn't resist to tell my grandmother. I told her what happened. She ran and called my mom immediately. Mom approached towards her and asked what's wrong? She said in short, "Our girl has matured. Let's celebrate." I was so sad bcoz orissa trip was cancelled. I cried a lot that day. The cramps were hurting me. I neither could stand nor sit comfortably. Mom cajoled me and took good care of me. And at the 4th day, all relatives were invited and a feast was organized. I received many gifts (money and jewellery). And the most nauseating part, I would say was breaking the egg and mixing it thoroughly and drinking it raw. It was the worst part for me. And finally after 5 days I felt relaxed.

Now here are some of the questions which will (or I say "should")come to your mind when this topic comes!!!

✓How many girls are suffering from a bad health due to menstruation in a month? Like any numbers?? How many percent of girls still use cotton cloth instead of pads?

✓ What are the customs and superstitions practiced by girls of rural areas (sometimes urban too) during periods? Which are really heart breaking!!

✓ Why mood swings affect girls so much?

✓ Why are boys not allowed to freely talk about it? Why are these things kept hidden in school where secret sessions are arranged in which only girls are allowed?

✓ Why is it that sanitary pads are packed in a black polythene??

✓ What are some of the transformation occured in the society due to campaigns and rallies??

✓ Why are girls not allowed to go to temples? Why are they not allowed to go to kitchen? Why are they declared as impure?

✓ What can you do during that time to make her feel better??

Periods come every month. Those 5-6 days of a month are horrible to them. Around 80ml of blood is lost in every cycle. If an average healthy woman lives for 70 years, then she spends almost 10 years gettinga PACKAGE full of mood swings (irritated , excited , exxagerated , angry , depressed , delighted) and still behaving as normal as she could in front of everyone.

According to study in 2012 researchers found, 32 to 40 percent trusted Source of people who have periods report this pain as so severe that they have to miss work or school.

In their lifetime, the average menstruating person uses almost 17,000 tampons or pads.

Another research , Only 12% of India's 355 million menstruating women use sanitary napkins (SNs). Over 88% of women resort to shocking alternatives like unsanitised cloth, ashes and husk sand.

Periods are celebrated in different parts of India when a girl onsets with her cycle.

✓ In Tamil Nadu, kudisai or small hut which is made up of coconut, mango and neem leaves by uncle of the girl. The girl is bathed in turmeric water and asked to stay in kudisai, where men are not allowed. Metal brooms are kept in the hut, along with delicious traditional delicacies. The girl is dressed in silk saree and adorned with jewellery. It is usually performed on the 9th, 11th and the 15th day. The hut is removed and the priest performs purification’ of the house.

✓ Assam

Assam- The ritual in Assam for the young menstruating girl who has had her period for the first time is called ‘Tuloni Biya‘. She is kept in a room separate from other family members and men are not allowed to enter or see her face for four days. Two pairs of beetle nut wrapped in red paper and kept in the neighbour’s place. The girl is not allowed to bath for first 4 days and consumes only fruits , neither can she step out in the sunlight. On the 4th day , she is married to a banana plant, which considered as her husband.

✓ WEST BENGAL

They are not allowed to touch any boys during that time, including their own fathers or brothers. On the 7th day, a brahmin comes over to conduct a Puja. He offers the girl a concoction of cow’s urine and stool mixed with milk to eat as prasad, in order to purify her. Isn't it devastating?

And many more rituals in other parts of India. And when I was going through the details of each area of country , I got to know about Philippines. Have a look.

✓ PHILIPPINES

When a Filipino girl gets her first period, her mother washes her bloodied panties with plain water. Then she would smear it on her daughter’s face in an age-long belief that doing so would prevent the latter from getting pimples.

I mean , I really don't have any words to express about it.

And then this are some of the restrictions and superstitions which are followed in every houses during menstruation.

• The leftover food from the girl’s plate is not given to dogs, it is believed that it may cause stomach ache.

• If you touch any vegetable before or during the pickling process they would not pickle and would go bad, and also raw papad.

• They can’t enter the temple because they are considered impure.

• They are asked to sit and eat separately.

• They can’t water the plants; there’s a chance the flowers might die.

• They are not allowed to enter the kitchens. In a study done in a random school in rural India, 55 percent of girls surveyed believed they could not cook or enter the kitchen is during and 4 days after menstruation or food would sour.

• In rural villages many women and girls spend their periods in an animal shed or a separate shed built outside their homes. This isolation practice is known as chhaupadi.

•She is also required to take care of her own food as no one is allowed to serve her food, not to forget that she is made to sleep in a separate room on a mat on the floor.

• The holy Tulsi or Basil plant is considered to be holy in Hinduism. Hence girls during their periods are not allowed to touch it. They cannot even let their shadows fall on the plant during this time. According to the myths the basil plant dies if you do so.

Other than India, there are some parts where some rituals are believed.

✓In Italy, You can’t touch plants.

Everything you cook will be a disaster.

✓In Malaysia ,You need to wash your pads before throwing them out. Otherwise ghosts will come and haunt you.(Now this will be some adventurous ritual if these pea-brains are right!!)

Even today, A menstruating woman is regarded untouchable in many parts of India.

Girls and women menstruating are not unclean. They are normal, natural, and healthy. The myth that women cannot enter temples and holy ground is culturally controversial, and a sensitive issue. When women are treated differently because of a naturally occurring body cycle it creates shame, taboos, and humiliation towards periods that is deeply embedded into society. And that is the only thing that’s absurd.

As a responsible person, what can you do as an individual to help?

If you are a girl, It's the best bcoz no one can understand better than that. Teach your children whether a girl or boy bcoz normalcy starts from the home only.

If you are a boy , just be the warmth that makes feel your girl/sister/mom/friend fitter. Don't make her feel terrible with your mood . The most needed thing is shower of love from your dear ones. Spend time with her. Make sure that she is comfortable with you.

"DONT BE A DOUCHE BAG AND WATCH HER DROWN, BE A MAN AND HOLD HER, SHE WILL SWIM ON HER OWN!!"

The good news is there are people making a difference each day when it comes to eliminating period taboos . And that's something which is soothing to ears. Awareness and education, especially for people in rural and developing countries, is necessary to empower girls and women everywhere. Together we can create a better world where girls believe periods are POWERFUL not shameful.