Menstruating Humla women spend nights under sky

By Rajan Rawat

Humla, Oct .1: Women in rural areas of Humla still spend the night under the open sky during menstruation due to social and religious beliefs.

Jouka Fadera of Unapani village of Sarkegaard Rural Municipality-3 said that even now when women are menstruating, they are forced to spend the night in the open sky by lighting a fire near their house.

She said, “Women are spending the night like this for years. They are victims of social and religious values.” For this, four to five women gather and stay together during the night. Because of the religious belief, women cannot live inside the house and touch any belongings even staying in the cowshed, she said.

Piuli Mahtara, 39, of the same village said that she has been living like this ever since her first period, except for during snowing in the winter season. Stating that even if they light the fire in the open ground, they suffer from the cold. She said that due to religious beliefs, women have to suffer the pain as if they had committed a crime.

Women have to spend like this at least 60 days a year under the open sky. She said that if women had to sit in the open air for many days during their periods, they would suffer from diseases like rheumatism, pneumonia and asthma. The family members provide one set of clothing and food from inside the house.