Chhaupadi – a harmful tradition

Women's Health

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The tradition of chhaupadi in Nepal is based on the belief that a woman is impure and brings evil spirits into the home during her menstruation cycle — which in practice has meant women supposed to stay in small huts or animal sheds during their periods. This has been outlawed in the country in the last year due to women dying of smoke inhalation, snake bites, and unsanitary conditions, but many in remote provinces like Accham still perform the ritual. I covered this important issue for the New York Times.