KATHMANDU: ‘Chhaupadi – Dying in Illegal Menstrual Huts’, a hard-hitting new short documentary by director Hemant Bhattarai, uncovers the brutal realities of a banned yet persistent cultural practice in Nepal that continues to cost women and girls their lives.

The film takes viewers deep into the remote far-western region of Nepal, particularly Achham district, where menstruating women and girls are still forced to isolate themselves in dangerous, unhygienic huts—locally known as Chhau Goths.

Though outlawed by Nepal’s Supreme Court in 2005 and criminalized in 2017, Chhaupadi remains widespread, fueled by centuries-old beliefs that menstruating women bring misfortune.

Bhattarai’s documentary offers a raw, immersive look into the lived experiences of women who have been subjected to this practice.

Through powerful personal testimonies, the film reveals the grim toll of Chhaupadi: women exposed to freezing temperatures, snake bites, wild animal attacks, sexual assault, and even death—simply for menstruating.

“This isn’t just about stigma—it’s about survival,” Bhattarai says. “Women are suffering horrific abuse in these illegal sheds, with families and communities turning a blind eye. I wanted to make a film that doesn’t just tell their stories, but forces us to confront this injustice.”

‘Chhaupadi – Dying in Illegal Menstrual Huts’ emphasizes that Chhaupadi is not merely a rural problem. It’s part of a global crisis where over 500 million women and girls lack access to safe menstrual hygiene facilities.

The documentary calls for urgent national and international action to end harmful traditions and promote menstrual dignity and gender equality.

By amplifying the voices of survivors and challenging a deeply patriarchal system, Bhattarai’s film serves as both documentation and resistance.

It urges communities, lawmakers, and viewers around the world to reckon with a practice that, while illegal on paper, continues to kill.