By 
07-02-2025
Valentina Palcovicova
South East Asia Researcher
Global Human Rights Defence
Chhaupadi is a deeply entrenched traditional practice in parts of western Nepal, where menstruating women and girls are considered impure and are banished to secluded huts or cow sheds during their periods. Despite being criminalised in 2018, the practice persists in some rural areas due to deeply rooted cultural beliefs, social norms, and lack of awareness.
Chhaupadi stems from Hindu traditions that associate menstruation with impurity. Women are believed to bring misfortune or divine wrath if they stay in their homes, touch male family members, or participate in religious or household activities during menstruation. Some communities fear that violating these taboos could result in illness, death of livestock, or other calamities. Families fear that if menstruating women stay in the house, they will bring misfortune, disease, or divine punishment, such as failed harvests or the death of livestock. As a result, women are forbidden from touching family members, entering kitchens, or participating in religious ceremonies, reinforcing their isolation and stigmatisation.
The consequences of chhaupadi are severe, often leading to life-threatening health risks and safety concerns. Women forced to stay in poorly ventilated huts or sheds endure extreme weather conditions, including freezing cold in the winter and excessive heat in the summer, increasing their risk of respiratory infections, pneumonia, and hypothermia. The isolation of these shelters also exposes them to dangers such as snake bites, insect bites, and attacks from wild animals, which have, in some cases, resulted in deaths. Additionally, women left alone in these vulnerable settings face a heightened risk of sexual harassment, assault, and even rape, particularly at night. Reports have emerged of young girls being attacked while staying in chhaupadi huts, yet the culture of silence and fear surrounding menstruation makes it difficult for victims to seek justice.
Beyond immediate health and safety risks, chhaupadi has long-term impacts on women’s well-being and social standing. Women who experience complications such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), reproductive health disorders, or malnutrition due to limited food intake during their menstrual seclusion often suffer in silence due to the stigma surrounding menstruation. The practice also disrupts girls’ education, as they are often unable to attend school during their periods, leading to frequent absenteeism and, in some cases, eventual dropout. This lack of education further perpetuates the cycle of gender inequality, limiting women’s opportunities for economic independence and reinforcing patriarchal control over their lives.
Although Nepal’s government has imposed penalties for enforcing chhaupadi, punishable by up to three months in jail or a fine of 3,000 Nepalese rupees (approximately $25 USD), enforcement remains weak, particularly in remote areas where traditional beliefs hold strong. Many families continue to uphold the practice, fearing social ostracisation if they abandon it. Women who resist chhaupadi often face criticism, exclusion, or even violence from their own communities. The lack of government oversight, combined with limited access to education and awareness programmes, has made it difficult to fully eradicate this practice.
However, efforts to combat chhaupadi are ongoing. Women’s rights organisations, NGOs, and local activists are working to dismantle menstrual taboos through education, community dialogues, and advocacy. Some initiatives focus on providing menstrual hygiene products, safe spaces for women, and support groups that empower women to challenge harmful traditions. Religious and community leaders are also being encouraged to promote alternative perspectives on menstruation, framing it as a natural and healthy biological process rather than a source of impurity.
Sources and Further Readings:
Amatya, P., Ghimire, S., Callahan, K. E., Baral, B. K., & Poudel, K. C. (2018). Practice and lived experience of menstrual exiles (Chhaupadi) among adolescent girls in far-western Nepal. PLOS ONE, 13(12), e0208260. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208260. Accessed 7 February 2025.
Kadariya, S., & Aro, A. R. (2015). Chhaupadi practice in Nepal – analysis of ethical aspects. Medicolegal and Bioethics, 5, 53–58. https://doi.org/10.2147/MB.S83825 Accessed 7 February 2025.
Thakuri, D. S., Thapa, R. K., Singh, S., Khanal, G. N., & Khatri, R. B. (2021). A harmful religio-cultural practice (Chhaupadi) during menstruation among adolescent girls in Nepal: Prevalence and policies for eradication. PLOS ONE, 16(9), e0257588. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257588. Accessed 7 February 2025.
Amgain, K. (2011). The status of Chhaupadi in Nepal: A study from Achham District. Journal of Health Promotion, 9, 15–24.
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