Periods - It's a shameful thing. You are dirty and impure. It's so unhygienic and unclean. It's such an embarrassing thing. You should not go to temples and don't worship God while menstruating. You shouldn't be touching pickles. Sanitary napkins should be wrapped properly with a newspaper and then a black plastic over it. No one should know that you are on your periods. You can't wash your hair. Don't eat or touch sour foods. And what not? 

We are in the 21st century and there are still some people in India who have these kind of mentality. There are few places in India where a girl on her periods cannot enter into a kitchen, they have to stay in a separate room. There is so much lack of education and superstitions in some parts of India about it. 

So, let me just tell you what actually MENSTRUATION is. 

Menstruation is just a natural process occurring in a human female. Menstrual cycle starts at the age of 12-14 years. It is basically a sign of puberty. It's a biological process that ensures that a female can reproduce and can further give birth to young ones. 

Menstrual flow that is bleeding ; occurs due to shedding/breakdown of endometrial lining of uterus and its blood vessels. (Uterus is basically a female's womb, a place inside a woman's body where a baby will grow, located in lower abdomen). Menstruation is repeated at an average interval of 28/29 days. In the middle of each cycle, one ovum/egg is released from the ovaries of a female. In case, egg is not fertilised then it further degenerates and the lining shed out and leaves the body through vagina and the girl or woman has her period which lasts upto 4-5 days. Therefore, it is called menstrual flow. In case, the egg is fertilised, then the uterus prepare itself for anticipated pregnancy following with the thickening of endometrium wall. (Fertilisation occur when a sperm from a male's body enter into a female's body through copulation) Menstruation only occurs if the released egg is not fertilised. Each month, blood and tissue build up in the uterus to prepared for a fertilised egg in case a woman becomes pregnant. 

Also, absence of menstruation may be indicative of pregnancy, but it may also be due to mental or physical stress or poor health or some underlying issues. 

Hence, menstruation is not something to be shameful of. It is not something to be called a “taboo” instead it's a “blessing” which everyone should be proud of. It is a natural process which everyone one should know and understand. People should start normalising some basic things. It is never too late. It is very essential to make our Earth a better place to live in.