Why a taboo? In almost every religion and many parts of the world there are certain restrictions imposed on women during periods. When my first period started, I was told not to enter the worship place because I was impure for four days. I could enter only after four days and that also after washing my hair and wearing clothes freshly washed by the dhobi (washerman) However, I always questioned this practice but never went against it and kept following whatever was told to.
There are bizarre myths attached to menstruation not only in India but also in many parts of the world as well. You can’t enter the worship place, can’t have a bath as that will cause infertility, you will contaminate the food, you can’t be in home or in contact with anybody, can’t have sex with your partner as it will kill him. In philipins, you need to wash your face with the first menstrual blood to have clear skin. In Iran it is considered as a disease. Wonder if men were menstruating, would there have been the same do’s and dont’s.
We become superstitious when we stop reasoning and questioning. Buddha says, ” Dont’t blindly believe me because others convience you of my words. Don’t believe anything you see, read or hear from others, whether of authority, religions teachers or texts.” Superstition is a widespread problem which can only be eradicated by logical thinking and reasoning.
As Gandhi ji said, ” If you want to change the world, change yourself.” I refuse to follow the practice which considers women unholy or impur, where natural biological process has been turned into a taboo. I refuse to blindly follow the discriminating rules and regulations made by the society. It’s a part of God’s creation, he does not discriminate, does not restrict anyone to worship him.