Periods in Pandemic: DOODLE IT!!!

Anyone who knows me, know that I like to speak against menstrual taboos that are pertinent in our society. Despite being so vocal about it, sadly, even I go through few of those every month. This is the saddest reality of my home and our Nepali society.

  Nevertheless, I like to see the brighter side of everything. My mom doesn't let me enter kitchen but I am allowed to sleep in my bed (though I need to wash the bed sheets and everything on the sacred FOURTH DAY), I am not allowed to go to Puja Kotha including temples, but I am allowed to eat Prasads. 

My mom used to be more strict than this, but with time, she has loosen up. I hope someday she understands the fact that menstruation is just a biological process. I promise to my unborn daughter today, that she will not have to face all these stigma upon a normal physiological process that most of the women have to go through.

Coming back to the main subject of writing this blog: A month ago, was World Menstruation Hygiene Day (on May 28th) and I participated in the Doodle competition organized by Visible Impact- an organization that has been working for last 5 years www.visim.org 

And since, I had revisited my long time hobby of doodling during the lockdown, I got inspired from few photos in Instagram and participated in the competition.

Below are my doodles for the competition:

Image 1: Princesses bleed as well

I was inspired from this photo in Instagram (inspiration source in photo) and tried to give my touch on it for the Menstrual Hygiene. The main idea was to show that Princesses bleed as well just like ordinary girls. They wear sanitary napkins, tampons or menstrual cup to maintain hygiene. 

Image 2: Periods in Pandemics

The basic idea of this Instagram inspired photo was to show that be it pandemic or not, there will be women in this world who will bleed and they will need hygienic products to maintain cleanliness and dignity. Along with other basic supplies, these sanitary products shouldn't be forgotten during Pandemics.

Image 3: Give me wings to bleed

The concept behind this Instagram inspired photo was that Menstruation is a normal phenomenon among most of those born with ovaries and uterus. All we need is sanitary products to keep us hygienic for days like this, a calm and supportive environment where we can bleed with dignity keeping our sanity alive and no taboos associated it.



Just to clarify everyone: there were few rules to be followed for the competition. We were given few templates (sanitary pad, menstrual cup, a drop of blood, menstrual beads and uterus) and had to stick to these templates and be creative so you can see these templates on all my 3 photos.


Also, I personally contacted all the 3 artists in Instagram whose photos I was inspired from. 2 of them replied and supported me positively while one of the artist didn't see my message I guess. I am indebted to those artists for inspiring us.

               And, at last the good news: I won the doodle competition. #Winner
 All thanks to my Facebook friends who liked and shared my photo the most so I was able to win. #Blessed       (You don't believe that I won!?)

Here's the proof

So, apparently the winners would get to top-up their phones. I participated in this competition to win but I never wanted the prize so I requested the organization to utilize my winning amount in some of the charitable work they'd do.


And at last, I am still hopeful that the menstrual taboos will be eradicated one day from our society. It might take some time because change ain't easy but I am optimistic that it will definitely be one day.