May 28 is a very important day for every woman. This day is celebrated worldwide as ‘Menstrual Hygiene Day’ to raise awareness about the hygiene and importance of menstruation. In 2012, several public health organizations began to pay attention to menstruation around the world. In May 2013, WASH United, a German NGO, launched a 28-day campaign called “Menstravaganza” with the help of social media. The positive response to the campaign led to the decision to celebrate World Menstrual Awareness Day on 28 May every year. On 28 May 2014, many countries around the world celebrated Menstrual Hygiene Day for the first time with rallies, exhibitions, film screenings, workshops and speeches.The 28th of May is celebrated as ” Menstrual Hygiene Day” every year since then. The main objective of this day is to emphasize and create awareness about menstrual hygiene around the world by removing the taboos prevalent in society. The reason for choosing May 28 as this day is also related to menstruation. The menstrual cycle usually is of 28 days and bleeding usually lasts 5 days. That is why 28/5/ is fixed for this day.
When a girl starts her first menstrual period , it is natural for her to have various questions and fears due to ignorance about the development and changes of her body. Although menstruation is a unique process in a girl’s life, it has been surrounded by various taboos and many outdated ideas about menstruation since ancient times around the world. These restrictions force people to remain silent due to misconceptions as well as embarrassment or fear of openly discussing menstruation. This has resulted in the mental state, mental and social life of girls and women for centuries and most importantly it has a significant impact on health. Even if these socio-cultural taboos and beliefs are challenged, many problems arise at different times. The main reason for this is not being informed about health, menstruation, reproductive processes etc. at the right age or feeling shy or reluctant to inform them. Therefore, it is very important to openly discuss physical changes during adolescence, menstruation, sexually transmitted diseases, health awareness, reproduction, etc.
There are still socio-cultural and religious influences in some places that hinder the advancement of knowledge on this subject. In ancient India, mentioning menstruation was also forbidden. Even today, in many areas, people are forced to refrain from participating in social activities including worship, kitchens, etc. because they are considered as dirty and unholy. The origin of this prohibition dates back to the Vedic period and is associated with the killing of Vritrasura by the god Indra. The women took part of Indra’s crime upon themselves. The Vedas say that the crime of killing a Brahmin causes menstruation every month. Therefore, it is believe that during menstruation Participation in the work of life is forbidden. It is also customary to cleanse before coming to family activities. Only after purification can they return to daily activities.
Scientifically, the real cause of menstruation is completely different. Bleeding from the endometrial vessel occurs when the egg does not mature and not fertilized. There is no reason for uncleanness here.
The underlying reason for the rules and restrictions that girls or women face in their daily lives is the superstitions associated with menstruation. It is believed that menstruating women are unhealthy and unclean, and that during menstruation, women’s bodies emit a smell and radiation that spoils stored food. There is no scientific basis for affecting food preparation or food spoilage or anything else during menstruation. However, it is very important to keep yourself clean during menstruation. It is very important to take care of diet during menstruation, but food restrictions are common.
According to a survey conducted in various parts of the country, about 70 percent of girls are unaware of menstruation. Even their families express fear or anxiety to discuss the matter. Only 36 per cent of menstruating women in India use sanitary pads. Others use harmful materials like old clothes, toilet paper, tissue paper, socks, straw, ash, tree leaves and mud. Every year, many students drop out of school after the onset of menstruation. The main reason for this is that schools do not have safe and clean places to change or dispose pads i.e lack of proper facilities. There is also a mentality of avoiding peers out of shame and fear.
Surprisingly, on average a woman spends seven years of her life menstruating. This process is very difficult and challenging for girls with disabilities and special needs.From the beginning of her first menstrual period, a girl is taught that this process, no matter how normal, is extremely shameful, disgusting, unholy and forbidden. In fact, menstruation is a process through which a girl is able to achieve the glory of motherhood.
As conscious citizens of society, we should all be aware of this. It is our duty to pay attention to the mental and physical impact that social restrictions can have on a growing teenager. If we view a normal process like menstruation in terms of taboos and discrimination, how can we expect them to grow up to be confident and outspoken ? Not only is it important to maintain good menstrual hygiene practices, but also to break free from imposing this belief that it is harmful to women’s emotional and mental growth.
There are many negative effects of menstruation around the world. Research shows that even in developed countries like the United States, 40 percent of women are shy, afraid and shy away from other colleagues. Menstruation has different meanings in different cultural and religious groups. The Cherokee nation of North America believe that menstruating women are sacred and powerful. Examples of such positive attitudes are rare.
Currently, many NGOs and Departments of Health and Family Welfare are implementing menstrual awareness and hygiene campaigns through various schemes. In addition, schools and below poverty line girls are provided with menstrual supplies but this is not enough.
Menstruation is one of the natural processes of the female body, a sign of femininity and fertility—essential for the reproduction of all species of animals on Earth. It is time to explain that menstruation is nothing but a biological process, there is no reason to be ashamed or afraid. There can be no reason to call a girl’s maturity unholy.
(28 May on the occasion of ” Menstrual Hygiene Day”)
Published on The Assam Tribune
Date. 28/05/ 2022.
