Even though we are living in the 21st century, it is heartbreaking how many young girls face period shaming.
Discrimination against women on account of menstruation is still widespread in India, where periods are still a taboo, and women on periods are still considered impure. The menstruating girls and women are often excluded from social and religious events, denied entry into temples and shrines, and many times, kept out of kitchens.
Some months back, a heartbreaking incident surfaced where authorities stripped 68 female students at an educational institute in Bhuj, Gujarat, to confirm if they were on periods. In a separate incident, video of a yogi surfaced, where he was preaching about menstruating women. In this disgusting video, while preaching he said:
“A menstruating woman who cooks food for her husband will certainly be reborn as ‘kutri’ (bitch).”
And according to him, people who eat food prepared by menstruating women will be born as oxen.
But, many women are standing against the regressive thought of period shaming. These brave souls are taking a centre stage to open the conversation about Menstruation, which is a natural biological function behind human existence.
One such inspiring soul is Paakhi, whose heart-touching poem – “Aaj Mahina Aaya Hai” talks about how our society still treats menstruating women as untouchable.
Here’s her inspiring poem:
Here are the complete lyrics:
-1-
Alag thali, alag bistar, alag sabse bithaya hai,
Maa ne aaj usko sabko bimar bataya hai,
Pura din usne alag kamre mein bitaya hai,
Mandir mein bhi jaana uska kuch din nishid karvaya hai,
Suno suno suno – Aaj phir mahina aaya hai
-2-
Bilakhta dekha beti ko toh baba ne sawal uthaya hai,
Maa ne nazre jhuka ke pet mein dard bataya hai,
Bhai bhi aa gaya bola diwai laya hai,
Maa ne gusse mein kaha – Aakhir humne bhi saha tha,Tumney kyun tamasha banaya hai,
karlo dhong dawai mat khana,aur shaant raho, shaant raho, accha nahin lagta,
Aaj phir ek maa ne apni beti ko dard sahna sikhaya hai,
Suno suno suno – Aaj phir mahina aaya hai</p>
-3-
Pooja kyun nahin ki tumne, Aaj is kamre mein kyun ho,
Pet mein dard kyun hai, Arey aaj padne kyun nahin gayi,
Na jaane aise kitne sawaalon ka,
Mainey aur Maa ne milkar bojh uthaya hai,
Meri chuppi par maa ke bahane banana,
Aur mera sharam se sir jhuk jana,
Aisi hi kai zilatton ne mujhey yahan pahunchaya hai,
Suno suno suno – Aaj phir mahina aaya hai!
-4-
Jeevan milta jis prakriya se,ussi ko meri sharam bana dala,
Aur logon ne toh dard sehna jaise mere dharm bana dala,
Maa ne sikhaya tha bachpan mein ki kabhi chot se khoon nikle toh batana aakar,
Yahan chot toh nahin lagi par har mahine khoon nikalne par mujhey ashudh kehkar,
Mere dil par kabhie na bharne wala zakhm bana dala,
Aur kuch log hongey abhi jo behaya besharam kehke nawazengein mujhey,
Shukriya aapka kyunki maine toh tumhare dhakosle ka dupata hata dala,
Ab nahin rakh saktey mujhey chup aur tum,
Kyunki mainey toh iss ghutan ka kissa mita daala,
Aur logon ne toh dard sehna jaise mere dharm bana dala!
-5-
Humari aadat purani hai dard sehne ki,
Thoda waqt toh legi jaane mein,
Haan dard mein hoon kyuni periods aayein hain,
Abhi mushkil toh hogi batane mein,
Abhi jijhak toh hogi batane mein,
Tum kaam bas itna karna, Sawal kam poochna madad karna dard nibhane mein,
Agar hum-umbra ho toh pooch lena jaa kar, warna saath dena raaz chupane mein,
Aadat purani hai na thoda waqt toh legii jaane mein,
Koshish bas meri itni hai ki dard na jhele, Pehla periods ka, doosra usko chupaana mein,
Karo shuruwaat tum ghar se hi is ghutan ko bitaney mein,
Shayad tumhari koshish naya badlav le aaye zamaane mein,
Haan dard mein hoon kyuni periods aayein hain,
Phir humein sharam na ayye batane mein
