DOTI, Dec 2: A woman died in course of observing the Chhaupadi (a cultural practice which banishes menstruating and new mothers from home) in Achham, the district in Sudur Paschim Province last night.

Hearing stories of women having to undergo strange ‘rituals’ and ‘rules’ just because they get periods always upsets me. When I first learned about ‘Chhaupadi’ and ‘Gufa prathas’ during a middle school social studies class, I was appalled by the fact that the society would punish women to either live out of their houses – in dangerous conditions – or lock them in a room, not letting them see the sun at all for something that is only natural and also completely out of their control.

KATHMANDU, Dec 21: Even in today’s day and age, there are still households in our country that hold a very medieval perception of natural human bodily cycles like menstrual periods. Instead of taking it as a healthy and natural change, families treat it like an unwanted happening that makes the female going through it impure and untouchable. Long time friends and now (business) partners, Shristi Pahari and Nabina Subedi are out to change that perception.

KATHMANDU, May 28: The government of Nepal will start celebrating the International Menstrual Hygiene Day from this year.

JAJARKOT, April 22: Gita Khadka of Luhadaha of Junichande-4 in Jajarkot spends her first seven days in a shed far from her home during her monthly periods.

ACHHAM, Nov 24: Ramita Saud, 16, was excited when her family recently started constructing a toilet at their house. But a few days after the construction was complete, she had her monthly period and was barred from using the toilet for five days.