“In my parent’s village, people strictly abided Chau Pratha. Girls who were menstruating were prohibited from going to school for 8 days. The elderly said that anyone who went to school would be sick and lose their senses. During menstruation, the other girls in the village and I slept on jute, nylon sack or hay. This was not inside a room but in the animal shed. Separately. I would be afraid, sleeping alone in the dark. But what would I do? I was compelled to sleep. There was no choice in this matter. What if someone came to attack me? Also, what if the ghosts that the elderly talked about crept into the shed and harmed me? Every month you lived with this fear for 8 days. There were times when I would find the company of another menstruating friend. In my parent’s house, during the days of menstruation, I still did the chores of the the house. I went to collect forage, cut wood, and went shepherding. I could not sit and complain about my bleeding or my backache. Sometimes, I would sit for long hours near the river and spent the day. But I was not allowed to work inside the house or touch anything. No sweeping and no cooking.

The practices that my husband and his family adopt are, in many ways, similar to what my parents followed. Before 2 years, I would not be able to come inside the room. This room was not allowed for women who were menstruating. But I had problems. My sons were very small, and it was difficult for me to lie in the corner with them. So I just took some courage and started entering the room. I was going to see what would happen. A scorpion bit me, and it made me think that maybe I had upset the ‘Deuta’. But I continued coming in and sleeping here. Now nothing happens. 

But my husband is not happy about it. He says, ‘Why do you come into this room? Do you want to get possessed by the ‘Deuta’? You are upsetting the ‘Deuta’ because you are no longer in his mercy. You might go into fits and go mad if you keep doing this.’ My heart hurts when he says such a thing. But I make my heart strong and do what is good for my safety and my children. I know my husband will also understand soon.”

#BreakingTheSilence in with Dignity Without Danger: Menstruation in Nepal