Yesterday, I witnessed something in the most unexpected place a lift in my society that left me disturbed, embarrassed, and thoughtful about how we, as a society, still treat women in her periods.
I stepped into the lift along with a very decent lady carrying her sweet two year old daughter. Everything was normal until the door, which was about to close, opened again. A middle aged woman appeared, holding a beautifully decorated Garba pot an important symbol in Navratri festivities, representing Maa Durga herself. Out of respect for her and the sacred pot she was holding, I adjusted myself to make space.
But instead of stepping in gracefully, she hesitated. For a moment, we were confused why wasn’t she entering? And then came a question that stunned everyone present. She looked directly at the young mother in the lift and asked:
“Kya aap ke periods chal rahe hai?”
(“Are you in your periods?”)
The silence that followed was louder than anything else. The young lady was shocked, embarrassed, and visibly uncomfortable. She stammered, “No… but why?” The Garba lady casually replied, “Sorry to ask you this, but as you can see, I am holding Garba.” And with that, she walked in as if nothing had happened.
The mother, holding her little girl, stood frozen—angry, humiliated, and confused. She was too dignified to react, but her silence said it all. And I, standing there, couldn’t believe what I had just witnessed.
Was this really necessary?
If the Garba lady was so concerned about “purity” or “touchability” during her ritual, she had many options. She could have waited for the next lift. She could have taken the stairs. But instead, she chose to disrespect another woman publicly all in the name of protecting her ritual.
How ironic is it that a woman, carrying a symbol of Goddess Durga the epitome of feminine power was openly disrespecting another woman for something as natural as menstruation? Maa Durga, whom we worship during Navratri, represents strength, compassion, and respect. Yet, here was someone praising the Goddess while shaming another woman in her name.
The bigger picture
This was just one incident. But how many women face similar or even worse situations every day? How many times are they judged, questioned, or shamed for something completely natural? As a man, standing in that lift, I felt extremely uncomfortable and disappointed not just in that lady’s behavior but in the mindset that fuels such actions.
Periods are a biological reality, not a curse. They don’t make a woman “impure.” They don’t reduce her worth. If anything, they remind us of the immense power and resilience women hold within themselves.
A lesson for society
That short ride in the lift was more than just an awkward moment. It was a mirror showing how much work still needs to be done in our society. Respect should never be selective. It should never be conditional. If we truly want to honor Maa Durga during Navratri or any goddess, for that matter we must start by respecting the women around us first.
Because no tradition, no ritual, and no belief system can ever justify shaming a woman for being a woman.
