Breaking the menstrual taboo | Kolkata’s 'Durga Puja' pandal initiates to break periods taboo with menstrual hygiene theme

Breaking the menstrual taboo: Menstruation is a natural biological process that affects roughly half of the world's population at some point in their lives. However, it has been subject to various myths, misconceptions, and cultural restrictions in many societies and it is our priority to break the menstrual taboo. 

Breaking the menstrual taboo refers to challenging and dismantling the social stigma, cultural taboos, and discrimination surrounding menstruation.

In an initiative to break the periods taboo, The Durga Puja pandal of 'Pathurighata Pancher Palli' in Kolkata aims to is break boundaries and a few taboos surrounding menstruation with its Menstrual Hygiene-themed pandal this year. 

On the 84th Puja Pandal, Kolkata has been made in an attempt to reflect on the issue of menstrual hygiene and social awareness.  

Kolkata Durga Puja pandal has chosen the theme of menstrual hygiene, or 'Ritumati'. 

Working President of 'Pathuriaghata Pancher Palli Sarbojanin Durgotsab' committee- the key person behind the idea, Ellora Saha, said, "Menstruation is a normal biological process, and there is no need to keep it under any kind of curtain. This is high time we break the taboos, and the first step will be to bring such issues to the fore."  

"In our society, people attach a lot of taboos to menstruation. While a woman is menstruating, she is not allowed in the kitchen, and she is not allowed to share beds with her husband. They are not allowed to step out of the house; they are not taught about personal health and hygiene matters. Not only girls, but boys should also learn about this matter properly and scientifically. People should take this as a simple, normal biological process like other systems. Nothing to glorify, nothing to hide. We should get out of these superstitions," she said. 

Notably, it took around three months and approximately Rs 18 lakh to make the pandal. Durga Puja pandal is based on installation arts like paintings, models, and graphics that focus on hygiene during menstrual cycles. 

The idol maker shaped the idols based on the central theme. 

Using art, painting literature, and media to portray menstruation in a positive and normalised way can help shift societal attitudes. 

- With inputs from agencies

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