Ritualized Violence toward Women in Nepal The Practice of Chhaupadi

Abstract

Chhaupadi is a traditional belief or taboos on menstruation practiced by Hindu girls and women in Nepal and India. It is one of the forms of ritualized violence and harmful practices deeply rooted within the social, cultural, psychological, and religious norms and values and is often perceived as the tradition in communities in which they are practiced. In this system, girls and women cannot stay in their homes and must live in Chhaugoth (Hut) or livestock shed. They are prohibited to touch people, animals, fruits, crops, and even non-living objects and are required to live away from the community during this period. It is found in most of the societies of the world, both in developed and underdeveloped countries. It is mainly practiced in Sudur Pachhim province, Karnali zone, and the mid-western part of Nepal. This article focuses on the ritualistic aspects of violence, concepts of purity and impurity, global taboos of menstruation, and the practice of Chhaupadi and its magnitude in Nepal.