Ongoing project to present personal narratives and the diverse socio/political beliefs on menstruation through writing & audio-visual work. The project began when I started sharing my own experiences with taboos and rituals surrounding menstruation.
"Like my mom had already explained to me during her briefing about periods, I was to go to the room which had become mine after my parents left and stay there for 9 days. The good thing about this room was the TV, thank god there was a TV! Woohoo, days filled with Nickelodeon, all other cartoon channels, Small Wonder, Hiphip Hooray and all of that. What fun!! Curtains were also closed as I wasn't supposed to see the Sun God, I would peak out at times though. My female cousins would come and spend time with me, we feasted on Titaura and chocolates.
I wasn't supposed to see male members of the family but that rule wasn't really taken seriously. My grandfather would come, see me and speak to me once in a while, from the door. My grandmother would bring food, tell me various stories and would sleep in the room with me but she wouldn't touch the bed or the carpets that I am in contact with. The carpets were moved so they don't touch her or her bed......."
"My parents & I moved from one city to the next, one apartment to another, once every year until a few years ago when they got a house and 'settled' in a suburban city near Toronto. In all these apartments my parents would have a shelf in a closet as their puja kotha (worship room). We wouldn't touch the shelf when on our period. I would try not to......."
I wasn't supposed to see male members of the family but that rule wasn't really taken seriously. My grandfather would come, see me and speak to me once in a while, from the door. My grandmother would bring food, tell me various stories and would sleep in the room with me but she wouldn't touch the bed or the carpets that I am in contact with. The carpets were moved so they don't touch her or her bed......."
"My parents & I moved from one city to the next, one apartment to another, once every year until a few years ago when they got a house and 'settled' in a suburban city near Toronto. In all these apartments my parents would have a shelf in a closet as their puja kotha (worship room). We wouldn't touch the shelf when on our period. I would try not to......."