To put an end to all the stigma surrounding menstruation, a Delhi-based NGO named 'Sachhi Saheli' organized a 'Period Feast' or 'Mahavari Mahabhoj' on February 23 where 28 menstruating women cooked and served food to over 300 attendees, The Times Of India reported.
The people who attended the feast also signed a pledge to stand in support and dispel the myth that women are impious during menstruation.
#periodfeast begins. we are happy to see women standing for their Dignity. Sharing some glimpse of #mahavaribhoj preparations. #menstruation #pushthestigmaaway #महावरी_भोज. Lets eliminate this #myth together. pic.twitter.com/8xq564s4uc
— SACHHI SAHELI (@SachhiSaheli) February 23, 2020
The NGO aimed at normalising what is considered impure and can potentially destroy the "dharma" of husbands, as claimed by Swami Krushnaswarup Dasji.
This was an extremely interesting afternoon. Period feast organised by @SachhiSaheli with an amazing street play by Asmita group and fresh food prepared by women proudly sporting an apron which announced that they were menstruating. Kudos. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/2w5H685FZ9
— Tanzila Anis تَنزِیلَہ اَنِیس 🇮🇳 (@aaliznat) February 23, 2020
The event focused on preserving women's menstrual dignity and protest against the negativity spread by Swami Krushnaswarup and several other leaders. The women wore aprons that read, "I am a proud menstruating woman."
Several women organized street plays to dismiss all the superstitions and myths associated with periods.
Sachhi Saheli vows to continue raising its voice against misconceptions and break the silence on menstruation.
Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, also attended the event. He said, "In today's scientific day and age, there is nothing pure or impure about menstruation, it is a natural biological process that should be taken as it is."
Its was an honour for us to have @msisodia With us for #periodfeast. Thankyou sir for gracing #महावरी_भोज with your presence. #mahavaribhoj #menstruation #pushthestigmaaway #महावरी_भोज #myth pic.twitter.com/LgOYfVRvrS
— SACHHI SAHELI (@SachhiSaheli) February 23, 2020
Noted feminist activist Kamla Bhasin also attended the event. She said, "I condemn the actions and thoughts of people who curse and stigmatize the same blood that gave them life! This Period Feast is a bold and appropriate retort for the misogynistic comments of swamis."
A few days ago, 68 students of Shri Sahjanand Girls' Institute (SSGI) in Bhuj were allegedly forced to remove their underwear to prove that they were not menstruating and a video of Swami Krushnaswarup Dasji, who belongs to the same sect that owns the SSGI college, resurfaced in which he claimed, "A menstruating woman who cooks food for her husband will certainly be reborn as a 'kutri' (bitch)."