Maasika Mahotsav: Menstruation Festival to be Celebrated in 11 Countries from May 21
Maasika Mahotsav, a week-long festival dedicated to destigmatizing menstruation through sports, arts, and cultural programs, will be celebrated from May 21 in 11 countries this year. Alongside India, the festival will also take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Pakistan, Nepal, Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, and Mexico. In India, 33 organizations will participate in the 8th edition of the festival, organizing events across various states and union territories, including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, and Tamil Nadu.
The festival aims to challenge menstrual taboos, eradicate period poverty, and spark meaningful conversations about menstruation globally, as stated by Thane-based NGO Muse Foundation in a release. Muse Foundation founder Nishant Bangera highlighted that this year, the festival will be celebrated for the first time in Puducherry, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab, and will be observed for the second time in Pakistan. Muse Foundation began addressing menstrual hygiene issues in 2014 and launched the Maasika Mahotsav in 2017.
This year’s festival is set to include a range of activities designed to promote awareness and education about menstrual health. By engaging communities through sports, arts, and cultural programs, Maasika Mahotsav seeks to normalize conversations about periods and provide support to those affected by period poverty. The involvement of numerous organizations and countries underscores the festival’s growing impact and its mission to create a world where menstruation is free of stigma and shame.
