Breaking the taboo around menstruation

"Be the change you want to see"– the famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi led to a very beautiful and encouraging fest and rally in the Capital. On the occasion of Menstrual Hygiene Day – which is celebrated on May 28 every year – Sachhi Saheli, a non-profit organisation, in association with Department of Woman and Child Development, Government of NCT Delhi, organised a festival and 'Pad Yatra' on May 27.

The main motive of this event was to emphasize that periods are a very normal and natural process and silence must be broken around this topic.

Following the tradition of accepting 'periods' as a pride and not shame, the heart of Delhi was decorated pink; a colour which symbolises 'womanhood'.

Manish Sisodia, Dy. Chief Minister of Delhi along will Swati Maliwal, Chairperson of Delhi Commision for Women, became the part of the celebration as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively. They not only boosted the confidence in the young generation but also encouraged people in breaking the barrier of old traditions and accepting new exposure to the elder women.

Visiting stalls and talking to doctors, the Chief Guest also interacted with the artists who were painting different portraits at the venue.

Speaking on the occasion, Sisodia said," Like charity begins at home, I believe the taboos or stigmas on the topis like menstrual can also be broken only when families on individual levels break the silence and accept it as a normal biological cycle in a woman's body".

The audience witnessed various activities at the venue. Apart from various sanitary napkin brand, there were many doctors from across the nation who were present at the fest to educate young girls and their mothers about periods as a very natural process.

A number of performances by music bands, zumba dancers, and nukkad natak teams were also a part of the celebration.

Swati Maliwal, addressing the crowd said, "Periods are a very normal process and they should not stop any girl from achieving her dreams," adding "When women like Rani Lakshmi Bai, Sanya Mirza or countless soldiers in our country never thought about their periods before fighting their respective battles, then why should I? Or why should you think about it?"

Calling slogans like "My periods my pride", "Break the taboo", the crowd of the 'Pad Yatra' moved along the inner circle of Connaught Place.

Concluding the programme, Dr Surbhi Singh, president of Sachhi Saheli said, "I am happy that so many people joined hands to become part of this awareness event and I am glad that after knowing about periods, no girl will be ashamed of this natural process and instead will take it as a pride of womanhood".