One day, you are living the joys of childhood and like any other child you laugh and play, and show the world how beautiful it is to be young. You are a presence that lights up a room and draws smiles from the grouchiest of adults. Suddenly, without knowing why, your world is turned upside down. You did nothing wrong, in fact you did nothing, biology simply decreed that your body is now ready to bring new life into this world.
Without knowing what to do, you spot a red stain on your underwear. A distinctive mark that welcomes puberty and that tells you, you are no longer a girl. You rush home, your head is spinning with so many questions, but as you ask your friends and family, they simply look at you with horror. Now, you’re not only confused, but scared as well.
“These mystical taboos change your life. With a jolt you realize you have lost it all.”
Your home becomes your only refuge and as you cling to your mother who has loved you for so many years, she asks what is wrong. It is enough to tell her that a red spot has appeared for her face to crumble with despair. She tells you to dry your tears, get up, and leave the room, leave everything behind. As she cries, your fear grows, and then your father arrives. Your mother knows she has lost the battle and that like her and every woman in the village, your life will never be the same.
This man who once had held you tenderly, grabs your arm and drags you outside, “you can’t eat with us, it is your feminine duty to be on your own. You are menstruating,” he says with disgust. The dreaded M word was a secret that you heard in hushed voices, you never thought it would arrive so soon, but it did. Nothing belongs to you and you don’t belong to anyone. From one day to the next, you don’t know how, but you have disappeared. You feel worthless and everyone agrees with you.
In Sindhuli, a small village 130km from Kathmandu, Nepal, all girls must go through this ritual: abandon all of their belongings, all the things they love in life, and live in the margins of the community. All of this because of taboos that exist around menstruation.
A group of girls photographed their experience and documented the restrictions that are imposed during their periods. Why? To break these taboos and improve their hygiene and the areas that are allocated for their use.
Each month the girls are separated from their families, forbidden to see the sun, touch fresh fruit and flowers, and even enter their own homes. They are impure and must be isolated like you never imagined.
This tradition is known as Chaupadi Pratha and it’s religiously practiced in the western part of the country. The girls are excluded from 6 to 10 days and if they touch anything, then it will bring bad luck and disease. As if it were a supernatural power, they believe they have the power to destroy crops and kill cattle. As a result, they are only allowed to eat rice, salt, and dried foods.
“When I had my first period, I had to stay at someone else’s house. I wasn’t allowed to go to school or read a book. Many believe we should not study when we are menstruating.”
In 2005, the Supreme Court of Nepal banned this practice; however, it continues to occur in rural areas. In a country where illiteracy reaches 58%, Water Aid gave out cameras to these girls so they could document their experiences and these are their photographs.
“This is my kitchen. In this photograph my mother and brother are sitting down enjoying dinner. During my period, I have to eat on my own, sometimes on the floor. I am sad. In other days my brother and I are treated equally. So, why am I discriminated against during my menstrual cycle?
“This is my mother and sister. My mother is lovingly feeding my sister, she loves me too; however, during my cycle she keeps me away from them. I have to eat far away where no one can touch me. It makes me feel unloved. We need a lot of support and love during this time, but I am treated like an Untouchable. I feel hated and I am sad for being treated this way.”
Bandana Khadka, 15 years old.
“In this photograph my mother is cutting some papaya. In our community we believe that during menstruation you are not allowed to eat papaya—even though I love it. We can’t even touch the Papaya tree.”
Sabina Gautam, 15 years old.
“These are my brothers Pujan, Bimal, and Uttam. When I got my first period they took me to a friend’s house. They told me I wasn’t allowed to see the men in the family. I don’t think it makes a difference if I touch my brothers. I hope my sisters don’t have to go through this.” Sabina Gautam, 15 years old.
“I was collecting firewood and dry grass when it happened. I had no idea you bled during menstruation, so when it happened I was frightened. There was no one around to help me, I didn’t know how to use cloth pads, and it took me a long time to understand what was happening. Now, I try to help other girls. I tell them to focus on keeping a good hygiene”. Rabina Budhathoki, 15 years old.
“This is the sun I wake up to everyday. The photograph shows the hills and valleys that you can see from my house. It feels nice to wake up with the sun on your face. When I had my first period, I wasn’t allowed to look at the sun; however, that didn’t stop me and nothing happened. A teacher told us of the importance of sun exposure and from that moment on, I realized that nobody should be locked away in the dark.” Bandana Khadka, 15 años.
“This is the place where I wash and clean my sanitary towels. The photograph shows a pile that I use. During our periods, it is very embarrassing to be washing them in a public space, so we seek hidden corners to do it.” Manishka Karki, 15 years old.
“A photo of a mirror and a hair brush I use at home. In our society, when girls menstruate for the first time they are not allowed to look at themselves in the mirror or brush their hair. My family and I don’t follow that tradition. I believe mirrors and brushes symbolize purity.” Sushma Diyali, 15 years old.
When did menstruation become taboo? For many, it is a rite of passage and a celebration that marks the transition from childhood to adolescence. It is a symbol of growth and of course, fertility. All women suffer this monthly cycle, some with intense pain and emotional turmoil, but most of us would never believe that because of it, we would be completely marginalized by those that surround us.
Give back their dignity and stop seeing menstruation as an impure cycle. Giving these girls a voice is the first step to getting back their dignity. Silence and stigma have become their constant companions and there is no safe place for them. Many of them leave school when they reach puberty because of their parents’ ideas, and others to avoid infections due to poor hygiene.
Don’t miss these:
Oscar Nominated Documentary Sheds Light On Period Taboos In India
The Man Who Decided To Menstruate To Understand Women
