I come from North and what I have observed within my family since childhood is that menstruating women are not allowed to engage in any religious ceremonies, Puja events or even the preparation of Prasad during any religious occasions. This is because they are considered impure during this time. The funniest aspect of these beliefs is that we are still advised not to water or touch the Tulsi plant while menstruating, with the reasoning that it could cause the plant to wither.
However, I was intrigued to discover the underlying positive intentions behind the restriction on women entering temples during menstruation.
In some regions, menstruating women are revered as goddesses, and it is believed that if they enter temples, their energy can interfere with that of the temple’s idol, causing the idol to become lifeless.
While in some places like Manipur, period blood is intensely respected. In fact, there is a ritual where a girl’s mother saves her first period cloth and gifts it to her when she gets married. First period cloth is considered to be very powerful and is believed to safeguard the girl from any adversity.
In Jharkhand, people are afraid of period blood. They think it can be used for harmful magic, so women who don’t hide their used pads are wrongly called ‘witches’. This fear leads to about 400 women being unfairly killed in Jharkhand every year.
Conclusion
It deeply saddens me to learn how menstruating women are mistreated in some areas, with the persistent taboo surrounding menstruation. These women are unjustly deemed impure and often marginalized as untouchables during this time. The time has come for us to break these taboos and raise awareness, ensuring that menstruation is embraced and acknowledged as a natural and healthy part of life.
