Well, yes, in the Western Countries and for those who are aiming to mingle with "Caucasians" or the West, this is the new trend in India among Indian women probably that to demonstrate that they are forward and modern, taking a pill presumptuously allows them to pop the pill. And, it is no longer going to be presumptuous for the Government of India has plans to make the pill, OTC, that is it can be brought without a prescription.
So, what is this hullabaloo about menstruation or periods which is much more a common word known to many? But before talking about the "taboos", I should acknowledge that I am aware of Christianity more and I cannot talk about Hinduism. This is the reason why I never argued but only asked about provoking me. We never discuss with friends periods as a social issue for it is a personal choice to oblige to the rituals or not and those who are in need can fight.
I have my own cause when it comes to periods and women and I think that is much more righteous than vain arguments over one abiding to their own rituals or not. My cause is to root out the evils and rights of a women to provide care for her body and embrace her biological creation that she can stay fit and healthy. While I was never willing to stand for or engage in dialogue over rituals and habits of a religion and its practices that I am not aware. I share respect to these practices when people have invited me telling them that I may deny if I am having my periods when I was reciprocated with dignity and respect allowing me or sharing understanding if they want to abide to their cultural practices. No one has ever wanted my companionship by force or as a psychopath wanting to use the pill that my presence will be acceptable until 2014 when the Hindu aggression started against me.
Now, what are the taboos that I find listed in the blog, Unearthing Menstrual Wisdom:
- Not attending religious functions, visiting the temple and not touching menstruating women
- Avoiding cooking and eating with others during menstruation
- Avoiding sex during menstruation
- Avoid swimming or washing the hair during menstruation
- Avoid eating certain types of food during menstruation
- Believing that menstrual blood is impure
- Taking time off during menstruation
- Restricting menstruating women to seclusion huts
- Menstrual cycle regulated by moon cycle
Well, they have this list of reasons as to why they should forgo doing things during menstruation. But our women who want to demythify and overcome the taboos are more forward-minded has resulted in outrageous new practices into the system.
One such practice is the use of "pills" for just skipping the hassles that in a modern accommodation that a period can cause unauspicion and emotions runs high. The pill can pre- or postpone the period days. A temporary solution to miss being the center of attraction, avoid embarrassment of being told to everyone attending a function or the religious event, safety of not being left out when family is away to the temple, enjoy all the good food, and above all how can one miss all the fun, especially when one is a party animal and temples or festivals or occasions when I had to be secluded for the cause of periods is missing a party! That drives some of these extrovert party beasts in women!
Well, what Christianity has to do with all these culture and practices? Now, the problem is, are these Hindu practices or are they Indian practices? Have you decided to answer this question? If Indian then ask me whether I am abiding to or expect me to discuss about the need to use the pills on those days, such as Pongal or wedding or such Hindu occasions? I have never seen a Hindu home inviting me for their wedding telling me not to come if you have periods. Then most of the relatives will not be turning up, probably. Will this be possible to find the wedding date for a Hindu wedding only when all the women are having their cycles synchronised? Are they practising in this manner? Well, that is not the case even within a family, even in a orthodox brahmin family. But, on what basis that some so-called "orthodox brahmins" have stirred this discussion of the "need to use the pills" that the Christian neighbours in the suburbs should use the pill.
Even worse is "the pill" turning into a discussion provoking at a Christian women for Hinduism culture and at workplace. Is it not stirring religious chaos? What is the need that someone has to abide to some cultural practices at work and just one women has to forgo her periods? This raises the important question of the business ethics where the employers are selfishly doping their women employees that they remain as workhorses by stopping not only their biological cycles but also manipulating their biological emotions and requirements. In other words, making women a work robot so that it will not be allowed a social life and spontaneity of nature on its own?
And, there comes the argument back again when they emphasize on Hinduism cultural practices for using the pill. If all the science and such arguments are in place in avoiding women during periods, then what is the whole idea in using the pill to attend it? Is it not gimmicking God and their whole cultural beliefs is in disarray and practising what they are doing for the benefits they say it has makes no meaning or sense? The most important question is: Is the use of pill for abiding to Hindu cultural practices is morally correct? Does it yield the benefit that it has to provide for the women during her cycles? And, is it spiritually correct?
Before, Christianity never forbids me from having my cycles every month unless I have carry my baby. And, I have the discretion to not take the communion if I think that I am not ready to partake in the Holy Communion, but the practices of Old Testament just like the sacrifices in place for salvation is also forgone. My mother usually tells me not to take the Communion often as it will turn into a ritual but only when I am mentally prepared and usually the first two or three days of the periods we will not be prepared to take the Holy Communion. But it did not matter if my sister was being married or my nephew being christened and confirmed. The Lord is not going to deny me salvation or postpone my resurrection to heaven if I have died bleeding or on a bleeding day. He is still going to accept me.
With my beliefs in tact, why should I be troubled over the pill? Having brought up in a culture that allows me to run and play and disregard the concept of virginity over a hymen tissue way before October, 2018 when WHO and UN Women declared and banned virginity test making us as pioneers for not abiding to these practices, sounds like a backlash to this ban and an outrage as moral policing and public disgracing culture.
In the end, if taking the pill turning into Hindu Culture and Belief, let it be! Why bother me, I am Christian, thank you! I prefer having my cycles! And I do not want to participate in your parties.
