Chhaupadi Pratha

In many min and far-western regions of Nepal, young girls grows up under fear of retribution if they fail to abide by their monthly restrictions. The tradition of “Chaupadi” has been condemned for violation of fundamental human rights and also for its negative impact on mental and physical health of women. Despite a ban being imposed by government, “Chaupadi Pratha” is still prevailing in rampant way. During menstruation period, women are required to move out of their house into makeshift hut because they are considered impure and likely to invite misfortunes. Married women are banished to temporary shift for four days whereas unmarried are obliged to seven days hide-stay. They are compelled to sleep in ‘chau goth’ — a mud covered hut, about size of standard bathroom — or in cowshed or small outhouse far from their resident.

Like so many rigid practices, ‘Chaupadi’ is also fueled by religious belief . The menstruation period is considered a phase of impurity and if she stays at home , it will make Gods angry and consequently that wrath may befall upon entire family. There exist some superstitious beliefs like ; if menstruating women touch livestock’s, it will die, if they cross river, it goes dry, and so on. Thus, they are not only banished from their residential homes but are also not allowed to touch their spouse or kin brothers. If they accidently touch any restricted male members , one should be purified with holy water . Likewise, they are also forbidden to roam around holy sanctum, and are prohibited to attend any sacred ritual, even weddings and ‘bhaitika’. While practicing ‘Chaupadi’, girls are often prohibited to attain school — because they are restricted to touch boys or because there lies river/temple on way to school — and end up missing classes every month.

Young girls inside ‘chau goth’ are vulnerable to suffering from hypothermia during freezing winter nights and dehydration during sweltering summer. There are more than enough evidences of ‘Chaupadi’ leading to deaths, snake bites, animals attack, rape, malnutrition, mental trauma, and infants dying of pneumonia. My scorpion brain finds ,hard to accept that, new mothers are also considered ‘’untouchables’’ and are forced to live under same restriction. At such vulnerable situation, both mothers and infants health are compromised.

We can see how womanhood is disgraced , when daughters grow up being ashamed of their own sexuality. One way to eradicate this practice is through participative awareness program and education at the community level. It requires prolonged multi-sectorial involvement of the government , public as well as NGOs and INGOs to assist ongoing social transformation.

Appreciatively, this is a dying practice . In recent years, some people have turned their back on this dead practice: a few burnt their ‘chau goth’, some villages are popularly known as “Chaupadi-free Zone”. Yet, we need lot of patience with recognition that ‘ as culture was not made in a day, it can’t be killed in a day’ .