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Women In Nepal Are Forced To Live In Menstrual Huts Whenever They Menstruate
Because menstrual blood is seen as a curse and a source of impurity
The Chhaupadi Pratha is an ancient Hindu practice that has existed in Nepal for hundreds of years. It is a custom that isolates menstruating women by banishing them to live in huts. During this time, the girls and women are forced to stay apart from other inhabitants.
In Nepali words, “Chhaupadi” means someone who bears an impurity and it mostly applies to menstrual women who are considered untouchable and unclean.
Apart from Nepal, Chhaupadi is also prominent in some parts of India and Bangladesh. In these places, any woman having her period is automatically banned from going into the temples or touching the food of others. She is also disallowed from using communal water or sharing items with others. This is because she is seen as a “polluted" woman.
For many years, women residing in the rural areas of Nepal bore the brunt of the effects of this custom as they were exiled for a week whenever they menstruated. While at it, they stayed in tiny mud or stone huts and were not allowed to go into their houses or cook any food. They were also disallowed from visiting the temples.
