Episode 58 - Menstrual Traditions in India with Mehvish Khan

What if I told you that in a country often criticized for menstrual taboos, there are ancient temples dedicated to celebrating menstruation? That thousands gather annually to honor divine feminine bleeding? That traditional Indian period practices dismissed as "backward" actually contain profound wisdom about cyclical rest and healing?

In this comprehensive exploration of menstrual traditions in India, we dive deep into conversations with Mehvish Khan, a Functional Nutritionist and Menstrual Cycle Coach from Gujarat, India. Her insights reveal a fascinating paradox: while modern India grapples with period shame and misinformation, ancient Indian wisdom holds some of the world's most sacred approaches to menstruation.

This investigation into Indian period customs will challenge everything you think you know about menstrual traditions, colonialism's impact on body wisdom, and the delicate balance between honoring ancestral practices while embracing necessary progress.

Topics covered

In this episode, we discussed

• Mehvish's journey into menstrual health and her cultural background in Gujarat, India
• Ancient Indian practices around menstruation, including celebrations of first menstruation in South India
• The concept of menstrual seclusion and its original purpose of providing rest and healing
• Sacred materials like Darbha grass mats are used during menstruation for their healing properties
• The impact of colonialism on the preservation and misinterpretation of ancestral practices
• Food myths and restrictions during menstruation in Indian culture
• Ancient temples in India dedicated to menstruating goddesses, including the Kamakhya Temple in Assam
• The sacred view of menstrual blood and respectful disposal practices
• Challenges in rural areas regarding menstrual education and product access
• The ongoing "menstrual revolution" happening across India

About Mehvish Khan

Mehvish Khan is a Functional Nutritionist, Menstrual Cycle Coach, and Women's Health Practitioner based in Gujarat, India. Coming from a rich cultural background that blends ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern nutritional science, Mehvish is passionate about helping women understand their menstrual cycles and connect with their bodies. She conducts menstrual awareness sessions in schools and rural communities, working to bridge the gap between ancestral healing practices and contemporary health education. Her work focuses on preserving the sacred aspects of menstruation while promoting practical health education and access to menstrual products.

Connect with Mehvish:

• Instagram: @corehealthbalance 
• Website: Coming soon

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Timestamps

Ancient Indian Temples Celebrate Menstruation as Sacred

While headlines focus on period poverty in India and menstrual exile, Mehvish reveals something extraordinary: India is home to ancient temples specifically dedicated to celebrating divine menstruation.

The Kamakhya Temple: Where Goddess Menstruation Becomes Festival

In Assam, the Kamakhya Temple hosts the annual Ambubachi Mela—a massive festival celebrating menstruation in India. During this three-day period celebration:

• The temple closes for three days while the goddess menstruates
• Water turns red throughout the temple grounds
• Thousands gather for folk dances, art, and celebration
• Sacred sculptures depict the goddess bleeding

This isn't a modern invention—these ancient menstrual practices are thousands of years old, predating many of the taboos we associate with Indian menstrual culture.

Other Sacred Menstrual Sites in India

The tradition of celebrating periods extends beyond Assam:

• Maha Temple in Kerala devoted to menstrual goddess worship
• Remote temples in Nepal with ancient period celebrations
• Countless smaller temples throughout rural India preserving these traditional menstrual practices

These sacred period sites reveal a profound truth: before colonialism and cultural disruption, menstruation was often considered sacred in India, not shameful.

Traditional Indian Period Practices: Ancient Wisdom Meeting Modern Science

One of the most fascinating aspects of Indian menstrual traditions is how traditional period practices align surprisingly well with modern cycle science.

First Menstruation Celebrations in South India: Menarche Rituals

When a girl gets her first period in South Indian communities:

• Sesame seeds and coconut-based foods are emphasized (rich in healthy fats for hormone production)
• Turmeric water for periods is given (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties)
• Warming, nourishing foods support the body's new cyclical needs
• Community celebration marks this transition to womanhood

This mirrors exactly what modern menstrual health practitioners recommend: nutrient-dense foods, anti-inflammatory support, and positive period messaging.

The Science Behind Traditional "Menstrual Seclusion" in India

The practice of menstrual seclusion in Indian culture—often criticized as discriminatory—originally had different intentions:

Traditional reasoning for period isolation:

• Women needed rest from physically demanding work during menstruation
• Walking long distances to temples was exhausting during periods
• Drawing water from wells required significant physical strength
• Separate time allowed for reflection and self-care during menstrual cycles

Modern parallel to traditional period practices:

• We now recommend reducing intense exercise during menstruation
• Rest and gentle movement support hormonal balance
• Time for introspection aligns with natural cycle phases
• Reduced social obligations can decrease menstrual stress

Durba Mats: Ancient Ayurvedic Period Care

Traditional Indian period practice includes sleeping on durba grass mats during menstruation rather than regular beds. This traditional menstrual care involves grass that:

• Has natural healing and cooling properties for period comfort
• Provides grounding energy similar to earthing practices
• Was traditionally used for yoga and meditation during menstrual cycles
• Offers a sacred space for menstrual rest in Ayurvedic tradition

Modern science supports grounding practices and the benefits of natural materials for sleep and recovery during periods.

How Colonialism Disrupted Sacred Indian Menstrual Traditions

Mehvish highlights a crucial point often overlooked in discussions of Indian menstrual taboos: many restrictive practices were misinterpretations or corruptions of originally supportive traditions.

How Protective Period Practices Became Prohibitive

This pattern appears worldwide—colonialism often turned earth-based, feminine-honoring traditions into shame-based restrictions around menstruation.

The Complexity of Cultural Change

Mehvish's fieldwork in remote villages reveals the delicate balance needed when introducing change:

• Some women still use rags instead of sanitary products
• Lack of education means dangerous misunderstandings persist
• Generational resistance to new methods creates conflict
• Economic factors limit access to better options

The solution isn't dismissing all traditional practices, but educating communities while respecting cultural foundations.

Period Education Crisis: The Trauma of Menstrual Ignorance in India

One of the most powerful moments in our conversation was Mehvish sharing her grandmother's story about period trauma from lack of education.

When First Periods Become "Cancer": A True Story from India

A young girl got her first period at school. Her best friend, with no education about menstruation, jokingly told her "You have cancer" upon seeing the menstrual blood.

The devastating result of period ignorance:

• The girl became so traumatized she required hospitalization
• Even after doctors and family explained periods were normal, she couldn't accept it
• The psychological trauma overshadowed what should have been a natural milestone
• Proper menstrual education could have prevented this entire period crisis

This story illustrates why comprehensive period education in India isn't optional—it's essential for psychological and physical wellbeing.

The Curiosity That Led to a Menstrual Health Career

Mehvish's own journey began with childhood curiosity about periods—buying sanitary pads as a teenager just to experience what they felt like (and accidentally putting them on upside down). This early fascination with menstruation eventually led her to dedicate her career to menstrual health in India.

The lesson? Curiosity about our bodies and periods should be encouraged, not shamed.

Indian Period Food Mythology: When Ancient Wisdom Becomes Modern Restriction

Indian menstrual food traditions reveal how ancestral knowledge can become distorted over generations.

The Papaya and Period Controversy in India

Common restriction in Indian culture: "Don't eat papaya during periods—it causes early menstruation or severe pain."

Scientific reality: Papaya during menstruation contains enzymes that might have mild effects in very large quantities, but moderate consumption is beneficial for periods

The problem: Girls avoid nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich foods based on generalized period fears

Iron-Rich Food Fears During Menstruation in India

Traditional belief about periods: "Avoid iron-rich foods during periods—more iron means more blood loss."

Foods restricted during menstruation: Dates, prunes, pomegranate, leafy greens

Scientific truth about period nutrition: Women need more iron during menstruation, not less, to replace what's lost through menstrual bleeding

Sacred Menstrual Blood Practices: Respect, Not Shame in Indian Tradition

One traditional Indian practice that beautifully illustrates the sacred view of menstrual blood involves washing used pads before disposal.

The Real Reason Behind Washing Menstrual Blood in India

Common misinterpretation: Menstrual blood is dirty and must be cleaned

Actual traditional reasoning in Indian culture: Menstrual blood is sacred, and out of respect for animals who might accidentally consume it, the period blood should be washed away first

This practice around menstrual blood appears across multiple Indian communities and reflects a view of menstrual blood as powerful and deserving of respect, not contamination requiring sanitization.

Energy-Based Period Restrictions Misunderstood in Indian Culture

Traditional practices around not touching menstruating women stem from energy beliefs in Ayurveda:

• Prana (life force energy) flows differently during menstruation
• Downward energy (apana) is dominant during menstrual bleeding
• Energetic boundaries were maintained to support this natural flow during periods
• Rest and separation allowed for proper energetic alignment during menstrual cycles

Modern misinterpretation focuses on contamination and dirtiness rather than energetic respect and support for menstruating women.

The Black Bag Revolution: Rejecting Period Shame in India

Mehvish advocates for a simple but powerful act of resistance: refusing the black bag when buying period products in India.

Why the Black Bag Matters for Period Stigma

In India (and many countries), period products are automatically placed in opaque black bags to hide them from view. This seemingly small gesture reinforces the message that periods are shameful secrets.

The Revolutionary Response to Period Shame

Instead of accepting the black bag for period products:

• Request a regular, transparent bag for sanitary pads
• Normalize period product visibility in Indian society
• Model confidence about periods for younger generations
• Challenge societal shame through daily actions around menstruation

This small act represents a larger revolution in period pride happening across India.

Ancient Approaches to Cyclical Living

Traditional Indian practices around menstruation often incorporated cyclical awareness that modern science now validates.

Head Washing Restrictions

Traditional practice: Avoid washing hair during the first 2-3 days of menstruation

Reasoning given: Maintains womb healing energy and preserves the body's natural cleansing process

Claimed effect: Prevents disrupted flow or reduced bleeding

While scientific evidence for this specific practice is limited, it reflects an understanding that different cycle phases require different approaches to self-care.

The Bigger Picture

These practices, whether scientifically validated or not, demonstrate ancestral recognition that:

• Menstruation is a unique physiological state
• Rest and reflection are valuable during bleeding
• Cyclical variation in energy and needs is natural
• Ritual and intention can support physical processes

This small act represents a larger revolution in period pride happening across India.

Modern Challenges: Bridging Old and New

Mehvish's work involves delicate cultural navigation—honoring valuable traditions while introducing necessary changes.

Family System Counseling

Effective menstrual education in India requires whole-family approaches:

• Mothers and mothers-in-law often influence practices most
• Male family members need education to provide support
• Generational differences in beliefs require sensitive handling
• Religious and cultural identity must be respected while promoting health

The Slow Pace of Change

Realistic expectations for cultural transformation include:

• Gradual acceptance rather than immediate adoption
• Community leaders as change ambassadors
• Economic factors affecting access to products and education
• Regional variations in openness to new ideas

Signs of Progress

Despite challenges, Mehvish observes encouraging trends:

• More men attending menstrual health workshops
• Open conversations increasing in families
• Local pad manufacturing by women's cooperatives
• NGO education programs reaching remote villages
• Young people questioning restrictive traditions  

Integrating Ancient Wisdom with Modern Science

The path forward isn't choosing between traditional and modern approaches, but thoughtfully integrating both.

What We Can Learn from Indian Traditions

Valuable practices to preserve:

• First menstruation celebrations that honor the transition to womanhood
• Cyclical awareness and adaptation of activities to cycle phases
• Sacred view of menstrual blood and feminine cycles
• Community support during menstrual transitions
• Holistic approaches considering energy, nutrition, and emotional needs  

Practices needing evolution:

• Blanket food restrictions without individual consideration
• Isolation practices that become punitive rather than supportive
• Shame-based messaging around natural bodily functions
• Lack of education leading to dangerous misunderstandings

The Seed Cycling Connection

Modern practices like seed cycling (eating specific seeds during different cycle phases) directly mirror traditional Indian practices of giving sesame seeds to newly menstruating girls. This connection shows how ancestral wisdom can inform evidence-based modern protocols.

Key Takeaways

1. Sacred traditions coexist with taboos in India - Ancient Indian temples celebrate menstruation while modern society often shames periods
2. Ancestral practices often align with modern science - Traditional first-period foods mirror current nutritional recommendations for menstrual health
3. Colonialism disrupted original meanings - Many restrictive practices were originally supportive traditions that got misinterpreted
4. Education prevents period trauma - Proper menstrual education can prevent psychological damage from ignorance about periods
5. Food restrictions need individual assessment - Blanket dietary rules during periods often eliminate beneficial nutrients
6. Menstrual blood was considered sacred in India - Traditional practices around period blood reflect respect, not contamination beliefs
7. Small acts create big change - Refusing black bags for period products challenges societal shame about menstruation
8. Family education is essential - Cultural change requires involving mothers, fathers, and extended family in period education
9. Progress is happening gradually - Young people and communities are increasingly open to positive change around menstruation
10. Integration, not replacement - The goal is blending valuable traditions with necessary modern knowledge about periods
11. Cyclical awareness has ancient roots - Traditional practices recognized that different cycle phases require different approaches
12. Global transformation is possible - Menstrual wisdom and education can spread while respecting cultural diversity

About the Host

I’m Iris Josephina—functional hormone specialist, orthomolecular hormone coach, and entrepreneur. Through Cycle Seeds and The Inner Rhythms Podcast, I support people in reconnecting with their cyclical nature, deepening body literacy, and reclaiming hormonal harmony from a place of sovereignty and embodied knowledge. Most people know me from Instagram, where I share stories, tools, and inspiration on cyclical living, menstrual cycles, fertility, hormones and more. 

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