Everyone ignored her because she was in red. She was in pain. It was hard for her to take care by herself. She was not allowed to go here & there. She was asked to not to do her regular work. I was a child and I don’t understand what was happening. I felt it was her fault to be in red because I never saw what or who made her becoming a red. Side by side, the strong wish came in my mind; I hope it will never happen to me. Yes, I don’t want to get ignored and be alone. 

One day, I felt a change in me and the red thing spot in me. I was afraid to share about it. I tried my best to hide. Do u think it was easy for me to hide that? Yes, you are right; it was not that easy as we speak. It was the day; I came to know the red thing I was unknown about was the impure blood that came from my vagina just to keep my body healthy. Yeah, it was a bit hard for me to get adjust at the beginning as I was getting ignored. I was grown up with a culture that I cannot go to the temple when I’m bleeding. With this belief, I never remembered god on those days although I was in pain. Until when I can act like that? Slowly, I decided to involve myself with everyone. I stop telling people about my periods and get enroll in every activity from cultural to social. Sometime, I questioned myself does the god will punish me for this? Is this my sin? I guess you all don’t have answer of it too. 

Now, I just feel amazed to bleed. I enjoy the moment when the blood is flowing. I acknowledge god for this because I know without this impure blood I cannot be a mother in the future. I don’t care what other think while any women are having mensuration, I just felt thankful to all those wonderful women for bleeding and flourishing a new life. 

Sushma Sunuwar
Program Assistant, YUWA