I learned the word of `Chhaupadi'
when I was reviewing the documents for my thesis for Bachelor of Community
Health Nursing, 1998. It composes with two words; `Chhau' (blood) and `Padi'
(shed). It is very common word in west Nepal exchangeable use with the words of
`Chhui' or `Chhui Pratha'. The blood considered as `impure' no
matter whether it is from childbirth or menstruation. Because of the
government's priority program of Safe Motherhood Program, Chhaupadi
during childbirth is getting unpopular whereas the Chhaupadi during
menstruation remained untouched for many years and getting global attention
since beginning of the Millennium Development Goals in many ways. My experiences/studies
confirmed that the more than forty types of restrictions related with touch,
eat, mobility/participation exactly same in Chitwan, Lamjung, Kathmandu and
West Nepal but more visible in west Nepal. The reason behind the following
restrictions during menstruation is also same that is `impurity' and it is
transferred from generation to generation without any dialogue as among of my
three senior sisters. I would call `deep level of ignorance' and `silence'
around menstruation. Around 1980, I not only observed the more than forty types
of restrictions but also observed my three sisters at neighbour's shed for 21
days, 15 days and 11 days during their first three periods in Chitwan.
