Menstrual Festival Series

Most girls start menstruating between the ages of 11 and 14 and stop between the ages of 45 and 50. Menstrual symptoms include lower abdominal pain, fatigue, rashes and hives, mood swings, headaches, weight gain, knee pain, anxiety and irritability. At that time, drinking warm water, wearing clean clothes, changing pads on time, eating healthy food, consuming herbs, not eating food that harms health, and living in a clean environment will reduce the pain. Sometimes menstruation is not on time, but it lasts for 7-10 days. If you have severe abdominal pain or vomiting or any other unusual symptoms, you should see a doctor. Clean cloths, pads, tampons or menstrual cups are used to prevent blood from getting on the clothes a woman wears during menstruation. Among the suitable devices, devices other than menstrual cups are used more in terms of availability, convenience and simplicity. But menstrual cups can be considered more useful for health and long-term use.

Some women are still unaware of menstrual cups. It is a safe and reliable reusable product made for women. It is in the form of a small flexible soli made of silicon. During menstruation, vaginal blood collects in the cup. It is an alternative device used instead of pads or tampons. Although it is a little more expensive than pads and tampons, it can be used for at least 3 years or more, so it can be considered cheap and safe in terms of use. According to

studies, it takes at least 500 years for a pad to decompose. Menstrual cups are better than pads. Menstrual cups do not harm the environment. It can be used for up to 12 hours and can be washed and reused. There is no problem of leakage, spotting with the use of menstrual cup. It does not cause any problems if used correctly.

Menstrual superstitions

Superstition about menstruation is one of the many social problems in Nepal. Superstitions about menstruation still exist in some villages and towns. The reason for this is lack of education and public awareness. Superstitions are gaining support in the name of behavior, customs and religion. There is a misconception that women cannot enter the kitchen, cannot go to the temple, cannot touch a book, and cannot even go in front of a man when they are menstruating. The religious superstition that the Gods are angry has held people captive. But women are neither untouchable nor impure. Earlier, when pads, tampons, menstrual cups were not available, women were made to sit in a room for their health. In that case, the other rooms of the house and the customs house would not be dirty. But now all these things are available. However, it is a sad aspect that in some places, kitchens, monasteries and temples are not allowed to enter.

Chhaupadi custom has not yet disappeared in the Far West. Chhaupadi is like a small shed, where even cattle cannot stay comfortably. Where menstruating women are kept. Although this practice has been legally banned, it has not been eradicated in many villages. Women have to face many risks while living in Chhaupadi. The risk of being bitten by snakes, eaten by wild animals, and subjected to violence by violent men remains the same. Some of the women have died while living in Chhaupadi.

It is necessary to improve many practices that have been going on for many generations. Such bad practices and practices in our society should be removed. It is necessary to identify bad practices and leave them in time to move forward with social reform work.

Still in some places menstruating women are considered untouchable and impure. However, there is also a place where 'Raktasrao Devi' is worshipped. There is a temple of Kamakhya Devi in ​​Guwahati, Assam, India, where Kamakhya, the Goddess of Bleeding, is worshipped. Many people's religious beliefs are connected with this temple. This temple represents feminine power, divine energy. Sati's vagina fell in Guwahati, Assam, India, as the organ decayed. Kamakhya temple is also the place where Shiva performed Tandava after the death of Sati. It is believed that Sati's vagina took the form of Kamakhya Devi. Under 2 floors of Kamakhya temple is Yoni Mudra, where water is seen flowing naturally. It is said that when Kamakhya Devi bleeds, the water turns red once a year.

Bleeding naturally is the normal rule. Women are not impure, as Kamakhya Devi is also worshiped in this way. This temple can be considered as a symbol of respect and energy of women.

Finally, menstruation is not a dosha or a curse. It is a blessing. Menstruation should be celebrated with joy. Due to superstitions, the level of education and awareness did not increase, the steps taken in ancient times should be changed. Its importance should be shown by going to underdeveloped and rural communities. In the name of tradition, the barriers that cause more pain to women should be broken, before that, it is necessary to break the barriers of the mind.

Change must start from the heart. An environment of equal behavior should be created in every house for daughter or daughter-in-law. There is a need for safe toilets in schools towards remote settlements. Now the girls do not have to consider menstruation as anything bad, impure, impure. You should be able to live and eat with your brothers and father. It is inappropriate in today's scientific age to say that one should not go to the monastery, worship, live with men, or look at the sun during menstruation. So, let's break the illusions and superstitions and celebrate Rajswala as a festival.