“A Period of Sharing,” an initiative by Muse that started in 2014 to spread awareness on Sustainable Menstruation, along with its partners, hosted the second edition of its indigenous festival on periods – Maasika Mahotsav, in five Indian states, according to a report in The Logical Indian.
 
The festival kicked off on May 21 and culminated on World Menstrual Hygiene Day, May 28. Various cultural and sporting activities marked this awareness campaign across different parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
 
OoWomaniya (Gujarat), DLRP Chai Project, Wash and (West Bengal); Muheem (Uttar Pradesh) and Sustainable Menstruation Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu) partnered with “A Period of Sharing” to smash the stigma of menstrual taboos and create awareness on sustainable menstruation using either sports/art/culture.
 
Maasika Mahotsav aims to invert the negative attitude towards menstruation. Riddled with taboos in India, menstruation can be extremely disempowering for women. The issues range from untouchability to infections caused by lack of access to proper menstrual products. Celebrating this phenomenon which is otherwise shrouded in mystery, through poetry, songs, art, dance, sports and a whole lot of other activities, will encourage people to see periods for what it is: a natural and empowering experience, the report says.
 
Activities taking place throughout the festival include a women’s football match, awareness sessions, skits, dances, poetry sessions, walkathon and cultural activities, workshops for government officials and in schools.