India is preparing to celebrate the eagerly awaited festival of ‘Maasika Mahotsav’ from May 21 onwards, in partnership with eleven other countries for a week-long event aimed at promoting awareness and destigmatizing periods through sports, arts, and cultural programs.
The festival’s eighth anniversary will be marked by events in 15 states across India, with the participation of 33 organizations, spreading the message of breaking the taboo around menstruation.
To demonstrate international solidarity, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Pakistan, Nepal, Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, and Mexico are among the countries enthusiastically participating in the festival.
In India, states such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, and Tamil Nadu will actively participate in the festival, each adding their own unique touch to the celebrations.
The Maasika Mahotsav festival aims to address several critical issues surrounding menstruation, such as period poverty and societal taboos, while also promoting global dialogues about the significance of this natural process.
Nishant Bangera, the founder of the Thane-based NGO Muse Foundation, expressed his excitement for this year’s festival, highlighting the fact that it will be observed for the second time in Pakistan and for the first time in Puducherry, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab. This extended reach of the festival will certainly contribute to its goal of creating greater awareness and understanding about menstruation.
The Maasika Mahotsav festival serves as a pivotal platform to elevate discussions surrounding menstruation and advocate for positive and inclusive changes in society. By bringing together multiple nations and organizations, it provides an opportunity to foster greater awareness and understanding about the importance of menstrual health.
As the festival approaches, anticipation and excitement are already building up as it prepares to make a powerful impact in driving positive change in society.
Source: Press Trust of India (PTI)