Hello My mom says we should stay away from animals especially snakes during periods as they are sensitive to the smell and other animals as well. But today I went to the zoo during periods and at first I didn’t realize it but then I realized I might be violating all the restrictions my mom mentions. My mom also says we should not be near tulasi and plants as they will get spoiled and similarly animals and their small babies. But since it’s my relatives birthday we went to the zoo and Along I felt really guilty. So do u ladies visit the zoo during periods. ? People who are superstitious please reply. All other ladies who are not superstitious and go to temples during periods please don’t reply.
I avoid going to temples or religious functions at that time out of respect for the beliefs of others. Never avoided zoos or any plants or other areas.
Snakes are behind glass walls in zoos. So i doubt very much they will be sensitive to smell. Dont worry. Even i am superstitious.
I am not superstitious but I still wish to state my opinion. 1. Never heard of the 'zoo' restriction. 2. Many women including some nonagenarians, said that they would take 3-4 baths at a stretch to count those 5 days and perform pujas, vratam and the inevitable temple visits.(adjustments to suit convenience.) Personally, I don't agree with their logic. I always struggled with periods so I preferred to stay away from everything including work. 3. One scientific reason for this period ban is, the body of a menstruating woman secretes a higher quantity of a pheromone called Prostaglandin. This prostaglandin causes uterine contractions and helps in expelling blood along with the built up uterine lining. This prostaglandin is said to cause excess fermentation of batter, if made during periods. It is also blamed for spoiling of pickles and wilting of some plants(!?). I have read about some sensitivity in babies too, they are crankier when mothers have periods. Perhaps the Zoo visit also has the same rationale. But if one is almost pain and irritation free, I don't think one's visit to the zoo matters, especially when we don't touch the wild animals physically.
Yes. I have heard the zoo comment. And also gone to the zoo, and did some unscientific observations. Snakes are hard to observe. As GK had mentioned, they are inside thick plexiglas enclosures, and not sure if they can see or smell any of us. However, hyenas are able to smell blood a long distance away, and they are in cages that are usually not sealed with plexiglas. So when the hyenas are walking back and forth, we sent two of us in the group to go to the cage and stand at the viewing guard-rail, while the rest of us stayed at a distance. We all observed their behavior... no difference when tempted with girls who had taken showers with mysore sandal soap that morning, and not in their periods. And unfortunately no difference in their behavior, when two others who are both wearing pads were at the viewing post that is only a couple of yards from the noses of the hyenas in the cage. It is likely that the hyenas are smelling everyone in the zoo, and their sense of smell is so totally shot in that environment. It must be a terrible torture for them, to smell such a lot of potentially tasty things, but consigned to a limited meat diet, that are designed to make their lives be as long, and healthy as possible. I can see the rationale why the superstition exists. It is to be kind to the animals and not put them through tempt-and-deny cycles.
As far as I know, all the restrictions your mom has is reasonable if you were living BC era. Because women of those times had no protective pads, no sanitary or hygiene practice as of today to manage period times. They only had some natural remedies and protection to handle periods within limitation. That's why they avoided bathing because bathing in common places like rivers, and streams during that time can be awful. Besides, people used to drink the same water, and those were the times no one used water purifiers. So, its obvious to ask bleeding women to avoid bathing that time. Similarly, if you bleed from the legs and the blood can flow out on the floor, its important you stay at one place rather than walking or working during that time. Unless you don't ware a pad, which can absorb 12 hrs of bleeding, it's rather difficult for women to be normal during such days. And its obvious to wash the areas wherever the bleeding women roamed within the house, and it is obvious to restrict their movements for the same. Now, it's possible certain sensitive plants like Tulsi and animals like snakes and dogs might get disturbed with the excessive smell of blood. If you walk around them with bleeding (that's how the ancient women walked), these plants and animals can get affected. So, whatever our elders stated that time makes absolute sense. But following the same practice till today, when all the improved sanitary and hygiene system are in place, is bit foolishness according to me. Use your common sense. Some women have high flow and very bad smelling during menstruation. Despite of wearing sanitary napkins, they can be obviously staining the car seats and dresses. They should avoid disturbing the home, zoo, animals, plants etc... rather disturbing their Gynecologists for treatments. It is sometimes a cause of concern. But the other women, who are 99% fine with a good sanitary pad, and other hygiene practices, can have normal life. And it depends on which day of your period too. The message from our elders is not to highlight the taboo of periods, but to highlight our convenience during that time. So, the choice should be yours and not your society's
Yes I have heard something like that, but not sure how far it’s true. They say you shouldn’t go near trees as well @GeetaKashyap and @SGBV have already explained everything
