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In August 2023, in the Far West province of Nepal, Batadi County, Devi, a 16-year-old girl, is curled up in a "menstrual shed" made of stones and cow dung at the entrance of the village.
This shed has no windows or doors. There is only a half-meter-high hole, and the inside is only two to three square meters in size.
Three days ago, Devi's menstrual period had just arrived, and her mother quickly sent her here according to the rules of the village.
However, no one thought that 16-year-old Devi would die because of it.
On the third night of Davi's living in the shack, a poisonous snake sneaked in and bit Davi's weak neck.
The girl could not breathe in her sleep until the next day when she was discovered by the people in the village.
The incident once again sparked local discussions in Nepal about the cancellation of the "monthly shelf".
ancient traditions
In Nepal, there has always been "Menstrual contraindications"The custom, which originated from Hindu myths hundreds of years ago.
Local believers believe that women's menstruation is the "curse" of Indra, the king of gods, and women during menstruation and pregnant women who have just given birth will be regarded as "unclean".
The fruit trees they touch will not bear fruit, the livestock they touch will fall ill, and may even pollute the entire family and bring bad luck.
As a result, every time women reach their periods, they are banned from all activities and are driven into the “monthly shelves” called “Chhaupadi.”
These isolation sheds are made of mud, straw and waste wooden boards on the roadside. Some walls are still stained with livestock manure, giving off a stench and musty smell.
Even there are only three or four such "menstrual sheds" in a village, and many times several people are crowded in a room.
During the period of isolation, they were not allowed to come into contact with any people and objects in the village, food and drinking water could only be delivered by the family, and they were careful to avoid touching their bodies.
It is not easy to survive these days, but to be driven into the river water with beef urine bath "cleansing" themselves, will be allowed to go home.
Even pregnant women who were born had to take their newborns to the shelter for a dozen days.
You know that the environment of these huts is extremely harsh, it is no wonder that Nepal's maternal and neonatal mortality rates have remained high.
During the summer, the "monthly shelf" in the darkness of the air, a moment of rain, and the rain flowed along with the grass in the shelf, let alone often there will be snakes mouse ants climbing in to bite people.
In winter, the hut is as cold as an ice cellar. People living in it can only burn firewood to keep warm, but the smoke can't be dispersed. Carbon monoxide poisoning is common.
In 2019, a 35-year-old mother and two young sons in Bajura County, Far Western Province lived in a "menstrual shed". Because the weather was so cold, they could only light a fire to keep warm. Unexpectedly, they all died of suffocation.
Even in July 2025, a 28-year-old girl in Kanchampur County died after being bitten by a poisonous snake in a "menstrual shed".
It is hard to imagine why such practices still exist in today’s highly advanced technology?
the plight of women
In order to curb these ruthless habits, the Nepalese government has not failed to do its best.
In 2005, official laws banned forcing women to abide by the custom of menstrual isolation, and in 2017 the crime was upgraded to a criminal offence.
A man was also arrested for the first time in 2019 for forcibly sending his wife’s sister into the menstrual shelf, resulting in an accidental death.
However, in some remote districts of Nepal, this abomination still exists.
Some government officials went to demolish shacks, and they were beaten and driven away by the old people in the village, who claimed that this would bring misfortune to the whole village.
Every time a police officer goes to the village to enforce the law, someone will secretly tip off those people. They are not afraid of the police at all, but they are afraid of the punishment of the gods.
In addition to feudal customs, women in Nepal also face economic difficulties.
The per capita annual income of Nepal is only over US$1000, and a box of sanitary napkins is equal to half a day's salary. Many women have never seen serious sanitary products in their lives.
Girls can only use old cloth, leaves and even hay instead. Coupled with the harsh environment of the "menstrual shed", many women suffer from serious gynecological diseases, which they still think is "punishment from the gods" and dare not go to the hospital to see a doctor.
But fortunately, there are many women's consciousness rising nowadays, “The Month of Shame.” The slogan has already climbed Mount Everest.
There are also more physiology lessons in schools, and many charities and women’s centers also distribute sanitary supplies and scientific knowledge for free.
In August this year, 39 "menstrual sheds" were directly demolished in western Nepal. I hope that in the future, women in Nepal will no longer have to suffer from menstruation.
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