End Period Taboos and Free 11,000 Girls in Nepal

In the hills of Bajhang, western Nepal, 66-year-old Bimal has spent most of his life working as a Dhami—a traditional healer deeply rooted in the religious and cultural practices of his community.

For decades, he followed what he believed were sacred customs. Women on their periods were considered “impure,” confined to sheds, and barred from touching family members, livestock, or water sources. These rules, part of a practice known as Chhaupadi, are not just isolating for women—they’re dangerous. Yet, for generations, they’ve been accepted as the norm in many rural areas of Nepal.

But today, Bimal’s beliefs have changed.

In Nepal, traditional healers like Bimal are trusted figures, especially in remote areas where formal health systems are hard to reach. When a Dhami like Bimal changes his mind—and publicly says so—it sends a powerful signal to the rest of the community.

Bimal is now one of the strongest local voices challenging menstrual stigma in his community.

“The Dignity Project has played a remarkable role in changing the way we look at menstruation,” Bimal told us recently. “I learned that menstruation is a natural process. I took to heart what I learned in the workshops and have now stopped practicing harmful customs. I no longer treat women as untouchable.”

Bimal has now attended three of our awareness workshops, delivered by Karuna’s local partner teams in Bajhang. These sessions cover not only the health risks of menstrual exile, but also the emotional and psychological toll it takes on women and girls.

He told us he now actively encourages families to keep girls safely inside the home, offer nutritious food like yogurt and milk, and—most importantly—to treat them with care, not shame.

Thank you