Menstruation (Chhaupadi) custom in Nepalese society

 By Sagar Saud

Chhaupadi means "In untouchable state, female in menstruation, having menstruation or to start menstruation or to get to period."

"Menstruation custom" or "Chhaupadi Pratha" is a bad social tradition practiced in Nepalese society. In this tradition, girls or women in their menstruation period are not touched by and kept away in a poorly built small hut called Chhaupadi Goth which can be nearby or away from the main house. Chhaupadi Goth or simply Chhau Goth is a small hut with no good facilities where the Chhaupadi (female who are in their menstruation period) live.

Chhaupadi custom is not limited to separately living but it is connected to untouchability also. Girls or women in their period are not touched by and they do not touch others especially male. Women may touch other women who they are closed to. A young girl may touch a young girl. But a young girl can't touch woman in general. It also depends on the strictness of societies. It means that they are untouchable during the period.

Another amazing or say ridiculous thing of this tradition is that Chhaupadi can't even touch fruit trees and domestic animals like cow, ox and buffalo. It is because of the religious belief that the god may angry. They can eat fruits but can't touch the tree. People believe that if the fruit trees are touched, the fruits get insects. Chhaupadi do not have milk and yoghurt because of the belief that the family god get angry and spoil the milk. This tradition is most prevalent in Karnali and Sudurpaschim Province of Nepal where people are more conservative.

The strictness of Chhaupadi custom varies from society to society to place to place. In some societies, women in period are kept in a separate room inside the main house in the ground floor but not in the upper floors. In others societies, there is a small hut or Goth build separately nearby the main house. And in some strict societies, for example, in Bajura and Accham district of Sudurpaschim Provence, the Chhaupadi Goth/huts are poorly built far away from the main house. Chhaupadi custom is practiced not only in villages or uneducated societies but also in educated city societies. In cities, Chhaupadi is kept separately inside the living room. They do not prepare food but can clean kitchen pots and platters.

In starting periods, girls are kept in the Chaupadi Goth or Menstruation hut and are not touched for 9 to 13 days. When girls get period for the first time, they are given new clothes and worshiping stuffs along with fruits and sweets in a round platter. But milk and yoghurt is prohibited to have because of religious belief.

Chhaupadi Pratha is a social stigma of Nepalese society. It is hindrance to women' all-round development. It is against the human right. In strict or more conservative remote societies, girls hesitate to go school while in period. They are prohibited to walk through the road that is adjacent to Hindu temple of god and goddess. They go by diverting the way or by escaping the temples. Chhaupadi can't perform holy religious actions but separately attend social or festive occasions standing far away.

Illiteracy, poor economic condition and menstruation custom

Illiterate old generation is much strict to Chhaupadi custom. It is deep seated in their thoughts and behaviors. They negate anti Chhaupadi thinking and actions. For them, it is destroy of religion and tradition to not follow the tradition.

Illiteracy, economic condition and Chhaupadi custom are interrelated. Those who are literate and economically strong with good living facilities don't let their girls and women to live in Chhaupadi Goth/hut. They make a separate room inside the house for Chhaupadi. They are asked to take rest in the period. Sanitary materials are provided them. Yet they are banned to join kitchen, religious actions and festive occasions.

In the other hand, illiterate and people with low living facilities make a small Chhaupadi Goth/hut nearby or far away from the main living house. They don't own such a big house with many living rooms. Low income or poor families can't provide sanitary materials to their girls and women. They don't get time to take rest in this period. Rather they have to work in the field whole day or to bring grass and firewood from the forest. So girls and women can't be neat and clean the more they have to.

Chhaupadi Goth (Menstruation hut) and female insecurity

The real Chhaupadi Goth/huts are built nearby or away from the main house. These huts are poorly build with no net in the windows and with no strong and safety doors. The roofs leak in the rainy seasons. No beds. No warm blankets to cover. No toilets. In total, the living condition in Chhaupadi Goth is very poor and insecure. Women and girls are raped each year, get snake bitten and get stung by a scorpion in the Chhaupadi Goth. Many innocent girls and women die untimely because of this tradition.

Awareness campaign and legal provisions against menstruation custom in Nepal

Chhaupadi custom has been declared illegal, inhumane and bigotry by the constitution of Nepal, Criminal Codes Act and other laws and procedures. All levels of governments and non-governmental organizations have been creating awareness against this conservative tradition. Local governments have taken initiation by breaking down the Chhaupadi Goth and providing no government services those who follow Chhaupadi custom. But as it has connected with socio-economic and religious dimensions, it is very difficult and full of challenge to uproot overnight.

Thus Chhaupadi custom is an old, conservative, discriminative, inhumane and illegal custom prevalent mainly in Sudurpaschim and Karnali province of Nepal. It is illegal by law. The practices of uprooting this custom are ongoing. Education, good economic and living conditions of the societies can lessen the severity of this custom. 

A women at menstruation hut
Photo source: facebook.com