A Tragic Loss: The Continuing Scourge of Chhaupadi in Nepal
It’s with a heavy heart we share a recent tragedy from Kanchanpur district, Nepal. A 28-year-old woman, Kamala Aauji Damai, lost her life after being bitten by a snake while forced to stay in a menstrual shed (chhaugoth) during her period.
Kamala was sleeping in a hut, reportedly 20-30 meters from her concrete home, when the snake bite occurred on Friday night. Despite being rushed to Seti Provincial Hospital, she tragically passed away on Saturday evening. Her husband is working abroad, and her in-laws were also away, leaving her young sons at home while she was isolated in the shed.
This heartbreaking incident shines a harsh light on Chhaupadi, a deeply entrenched and harmful social tradition in western Nepal. This practice forces menstruating women and girls into isolation – often in sheds, animal shelters, or separate huts – based on the belief that they are “impure” during their periods.
Despite being criminalized in 2017, with penalties including jail time and fines, Chhaupadi continues to persist, especially in Sudurpaschim Province. Local authorities, like those in Krishnapur Municipality, have actively tried to dismantle these huts, even demolishing around 60 last year. However, as the ward chair Mohan Basnet sadly noted, “We keep educating them, but they don’t listen to us.”
The fact that Kamala, despite having a concrete house, felt compelled to use a separate shed for menstruation highlights the immense societal pressure and the deeply rooted superstitions that fuel this practice. This tragedy underscores a critical point: awareness alone isn’t enough. We need stronger enforcement of the law, combined with persistent and culturally sensitive community engagement, to truly eradicate this dangerous tradition.
Our thoughts are with Kamala Aauji Damai’s family during this incredibly difficult time. Her death is a stark reminder of the urgent need to end Chhaupadi and ensure the safety and dignity of all women and girls in Nepal.
(This is an example of a hut where a woman in Nepal who is menstruating will spend the night. The photo was taken in Achham district, in the western part of the country, where the practice occurs even though it has been banned by the government)
