The term taboo always represents some boundaries and restrictions. Did we ever think, Why these taboos are generated? NO, We just blindly follow them and take them as restrictions and a boundary line. In this article, we are going to discuss the taboos about Menstruation(periods). The Rules that every woman has to follow during her periods are based on some taboos. And each Rule is covered with a myth. We all know during the periods a woman cannot enter a temple, to her own kitchen, cannot touch flowers, is not invited to any religious festival, or in some places, she is banned from social gatherings. We are following these taboos from a very early period of time and now these taboos becomes the rules of every woman during her periods. Do we ever think about where these taboos came from? Why everyone is blindly following them?
In Odia culture, there is a festival celebrated named “ROJO” on June 14 creates an example of the Hindu culture. During this festival of 3 days, all the goddesses are separated from the worship place and the women are not allowed to do any kind of work for these 3 days. They celebrate this as the festival of menstruation, they believe in these 3 days goddesses are going through their periods, they separate them so that they can take proper rest during these 3 days .here they term “goddess” to each and every woman of this world that’s why in this 3 day they said to take care of themselves and have proper rest. The festival of blood where they don’t ashamed to speak the term “MENSTRUATION” and celebrate this as their pride. Every woman of Odisha put “ALTA” on their foot as a symbol of blood and takes some personal time for self-care and grooming. new clothes and good food are provided to them as a symbol of their mood swings during periods. This is a very popular festival for women in Odisha. Odia culture taught us goddesses are made for worship no matter in which “AVTAR” they are in front of us. And this put me to the conclusion of the menstruation taboo is a myth.
When a girl gets her first period, the family celebrates that day as her day of maturity and gives her some gifts. At the same time, they started explaining the taboos for her period. the little teen girl who doesn’t even know what is happening to her started following all the rules and become a captive in her own house. She is not allowed to meet her friends, not allowed in any spiritual function, and many more. Is it fine to make her feel like an untouchable? When we celebrate the day of maturity it is because she is a warrior who got the blessing to fight those monthly pain, mood swings, etc, and continues the generation by accepting every pain of pregnancy.
“The stain of blood is the symbol of purity, not the shame” when we will accept this, we are ready to accept our taboos with their true reasons. The reason behind each taboo is different, some people get it and some don’t. the aim of this article is to enlighten the world about the true side of the menstruation taboo.
In the ancient period as our culture linked us to god and we believe in worshipping them every day. Women are always involved in the work of the household and going temple for worship. During their periods to give them proper rest and time so that they can take care of themselves, these regulations are invented that they cannot go to the temple, to the kitchen, etc. and cannot go to pluck flowers, all these regulations are applied only for women wellbeing. But as time passes these regulations took the place of taboo and become boundaries for every woman. Women cannot go to the temple because in their period they should not walk so much and have proper rest there is nothing written anywhere that they cannot worship God from their home. We people made these things taboo. They are banned in social gatherings because in the rush they may feel uncomfortable or they can feel uneasy, but our people make this a strict boundary for the women.
The thing is Taboo is nothing we created some rules for our well-being but as time passes everyone took it as a mandatory to do and make it a social Taboo. When the time changes with it people also change their lifestyle, food, and culture but taboo is something that always remains constant and everyone is bound to follow them. With this modernized thinking also somewhere we all are linked with some taboos of our own.
It depends upon us, how we accept our taboos as a restriction or as the message from our forefathers for our wellbeing. Removing taboos is always not the best work to do sometimes we need to study deeply and understand the reason behind every statement and learn how to accept that with the positive side. Every coin has its two faces, like that each and every statement, taboo, etc that came from our ancient period has a history with it. Bhagwat Geeta has the solution to all problems that a human can face in his life, if we started to find the negative side of the book some may find some disagreement with the slokas. we people stick to only one side of everything that we know from the beginning and never tried to look at the other face.
Menstruation is a blessing for the continuation of generation. But the Taboos show society the face of the untouchability of women. We should overcome the Taboo by accepting their positive side. Each and everything in this world has its own reasons for existence we just have to find them and accept them with pride.