Period ka Kura
Hosted by Shristi Kafle and Priyanka Budhathoki
Period Kaa Kura is a Nepali Podcast by Shristi Kafle and Priyanka Budhathoki, breaking the rooted silence on menstruation and debunking myths, taboos, and stigmas associated with menstruation in Nepali society. This is a movement to end menstrual discrimination by creating a space for all menstruators to represent their voice and break the taboos. Today, Period Kaa Kura has become a platform for menstruators to speak about the silenced issue: PERIOD. We are committed to raising our voice for dignified menstruation.
15 episodes · updated 2026-10-18
Episodes
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Episode 97 - राहतमा महिनावारी स्वास्थ्य किन छुट्नु हुँदैन?
What does it mean to manage your period when floods have taken away access to clean water, toilets, privacy and even basic personal belongings? In this episode, we look at menstrual health during Nepal’s recent floods and the realities faced by people living through displacement. We hear from women affected by the floods in Nuwakot, talk about the dignity kits being prepared and distributed, and speak with Dr Namuna Rasaili about how menstruating people can protect their health when ideal hygiene simply isn’t possible. Because menstrual health during a disaster is about much more than access to pads. It is also about clean water, safe toilets, underwear, privacy, healthcare and making sure the needs of women, girls and other menstruating people are not overlooked in emergency response.
Sep 22, 2026 · 0m
Episode 96 - What's our Period Leaving Behind?
In this episode, we take you to one of the conversations from Mero Mahinawari Hariyo II. What's our period leaving behind? Beyond the monthly cycle, what is the environmental cost of the menstrual products we use every day? Are there sustainable alternatives that are affordable, accessible, and practical in Nepal? Host Shristi Kafle moderates this timely conversation with Puja Singh, a menstrual justice advocate from Achham, project coordinator at Unnati Nepal, and Dr. Manu Karki, Founder of Eco-Saathi Nepal. Together, they unpack the growing challenge of menstrual waste, explore eco-friendly menstrual products available in Nepal, and discuss why sustainable choices are not just good for the environment but also for our health and our wallets. This episode reminds us that menstrual justice is also environmental justice. Every period leaves a footprint, and every choice we make has the power to shape a healthier future for ourselves and the planet. Listen in and join the conversation.
Jul 31, 2026 · 0m
Episode 95- So Why Are Period Products Still Taxed in Nepal?
In this episode of Period Kaa Kura, we revisit one of Nepal's longest-running menstrual justice debates: the fight to remove taxes on sanitary pads. The conversation was reignited recently when Member of Parliament Purushottam Yadav called on the government to remove taxes on sanitary pads, arguing that menstruation is a natural biological process and that products essential to managing it should not be taxed. His remarks have once again raised an important question: If sanitary pads are a basic necessity, why are menstruators still paying the price? Last year, Nepal's Supreme Court ordered the government to remove taxes on sanitary pads after a four-year legal battle led by law students and menstrual justice advocates. In Episode 87, No More Tax on Pads. Finally., we explored that landmark decision and what it could mean for menstrual equity in Nepal. But a court ruling is only the beginning. How is that decision being implemented? What happens after the headlines fade? And why are advocates still pushing for change? In this episode, Co-Host Priyanka speaks with Jesselina Rana, founder of Pad2Go and human rights lawyer, and Alina Pandey, legal researcher and menstrual advocate. They discuss the ongoing Raato Kar Maaf Gar campaign, recent meetings with Members of Parliament, the reactions they are hearing from decision-makers, and what it will take to turn years of advocacy into real policy action. The conversation also reflects on Nepal's newly announced fiscal year budget and what it reveals about the government's priorities when it comes to menstrual health and menstrual justice. 🎧 Listen in, join the conversation, and learn why advocates say the fight is far from over. Referenced episode: Episode 87 – No More Tax on Pads. Finally
Jun 3, 2026 · 0m
Episode 94- Theatre Against Period Shame
In this episode, our co-host Priyanka sits down with theatre practitioner from Germany Malin Freytag, along with Nepali artist director Saraswoti Chaudhary and actor Smriti Rai Culmur, to talk about what it really means to bleed… and to say it out loud. From the Mandala Theatre stage, this conversation moves into real stories of pain, silence, and stigma, showing how menstruation is lived, hidden, and finally spoken out loud. Not in whispers or just ideas, but through bodies, stories, and presence. This is about breaking period stigma by not just talking, but by daring to be seen.
Apr 28, 2026 · 0m
Episode 93 - Periods are Political
In this episode of Period Kaa Kura, we unpack how menstruation is shaped by power, policy, stigma, and control, not just biology. In Nepal and beyond, periods are still treated as a private “women’s issue,” while the bigger questions of dignity, access, rights, and justice are pushed aside. This episode grows from the “Periods Are Political” discussion held during the Mero Mahinawari Hariyo II event in Kathmandu. This episode is facilitated by Pooja Bista, co-founder of Untold Period Stories , in conversation with Parina Subba Limbu, Founder of Dristi Nepal, the conversation looks at how menstruation connects to human rights, public policy, healthcare, exclusion, and agency. We also center the realities of those too often left out of mainstream menstrual conversations, including women who use drugs, female sex workers, women living with HIV, and survivors of violence. Because periods are never just about bleeding. They are also about who gets care, who gets choice, and who gets controlled.
Mar 30, 2026 · 0m
Episode 92- Where are Menstruators in this Election?
In this powerful episode of Period Kaa Kura, we strip away the political slogans to look at the hard truth of the 2026 General Election. While the Constitution of Nepal envisions a 33% female representation in the halls of power, the reality on the candidates numbers tells a different story of exclusion and systemic bias. We dive into the numbers that define this election: The FPTP Gap: Out of 3,484 candidates contesting directly (First-Past-The-Post), only 395 are women, a staggering 11.34%. The PR Safety Net: In contrast, the Proportional Representation list features 1,772 women (56.5%), revealing how parties often "relegate" menstruators to the background rather than letting them lead on the frontlines. Major Party Breakdown: We analyze why parties like the Nepali Congress (6.6%), CPN-UML (4.8%), and even the reformist RSP (10.3%) are failing to meet the gender threshold in direct polls. When 89% of direct candidates are non-menstruators, who is truly representing our reproductive health, menstrual dignity, and our right to live without menstrual discrimination? Join us as we discuss why the "menstrual voice" is being sidelined and what it means for the future of feminism in Nepal. Listen now and join the movement to bring the womb and the room together.
Feb 21, 2026 · 0m
Episode 91- Period Basics for People who do not Menstruate
If You Don’t Bleed, You Need This Episode This one is for men and for anyone who has never menstruated but lives alongside someone who does. In this episode of Period Kaa Kura, we go back to the basics. What actually happens during a menstrual cycle? What are the follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase? And why does it matter to understand them beyond biology? We talk about periods in the way many people were never taught at home or in school. Without shame. Without whispers. Without the idea that this is “not your topic.” This episode is an invitation to listen. To learn. And to question what you think you already know. Because menstruation is not just a “women’s issue.” And understanding it is not optional. 🎧 Listen now on Period Kaa Kura
Feb 3, 2026 · 0m
Episode 90- Feeling Everything All at Once?
This past week has been overwhelming for so many of us with anger, fear, sadness, and then moments of hope, all arriving at once. In this episode of Period Kaa Kura, we step away from our usual focus on menstrual health to have a necessary conversation about emotions. Joining us is Dr. Bhawana Shrestha from My Emotions Matter, who helps us unpack what it means to name our feelings, to understand them and to respond instead of suppressing them. This episode is a gentle reminder that we need to check our emotion now and be aware of them. Emotional awareness can make us stronger as individuals and as a country finding its way forward.
Sep 16, 2025 · 0m
Episode 89- No Period Education in School! What’s the Cost?
Did you know Health, Population and Environment (HPE), the subject that once covered periods, puberty and basic sexual and reproductive health is now optional in Nepali secondary schools? That change matters. A lot. In this episode of Period Kaa Kura, we sit down with Nirajan Khadka, SRHR Technical Advisor at Plan Nepal, to ask the hard questions: What role should civil society play when the curriculum fails? How can CSOs help make SRH information accessible, accurate and practical for students in grades 9–12? And what does an accountable, community-led approach to menstrual and reproductive education actually look like on the ground? 🎧 Listen to the episode on Period Kaa Kura, available on all major podcast platforms. Share this with a teacher, a school principal, or anyone who still thinks “they’ll learn later."
Aug 19, 2025 · 0m
Episode 88- The Invisible Threat: Microbial Risk and Menstrual Dignity
Ever wondered what hides in the bucket and mug of a rural Nepali toilet and how it might be silently undermining women’s health and dignity? In this episode of Period Kaa Kura, we sit down with Sabita Adhikari, PhD, The University of Sydney, whose research on Microbial Risk in Rural Sanitation uncovers exactly that. She spent years studying E. coli and other harmful bacteria in everyday sanitation tools across Nepal and Fiji—and the results are a wake‑up call for anyone who cares about public health, menstrual equity, and mental well‑being. 🔍 We’ll explore: • Why sanitation and menstrual health must go hand‑in‑hand • How a poorly cleaned mug can spark serious infections • The hidden mental toll when “safe” spaces aren’t so safe • And Sabita’s own journey of silently breaking menstrual taboos and stigma If you think menstrual health is just about pads, think again. It’s about dignity, justice, and the unseen risks in our daily habits. 🎧 Tune in to this conversation on Period Kaa Kura
Jul 18, 2025 · 0m
Episode 87- Ending Period Tax in Nepal
No more tax on pads. Finally. After four long years of legal struggle, Nepal’s Supreme Court has ordered the government to remove taxes on sanitary pads. A huge step for menstrual justice in Nepal! In 2021, Shreena Nepal and Abhyuday Bhetwal, students at Kathmandu School of Law, filed a writ petition demanding that sanitary pads be classified as essential goods—not luxury items. What does this mean?👉 A pack of pads that cost Rs. 60 could now cost around Rs. 50.👉 It boosts domestic production.👉 It’s one step closer to menstrual equity. In this episode of Period Kaa Kura, we sit down with Shreena Nepal, one of the lawyers who fought this case, to talk about how it all happened, what challenges they faced, and what this decision really means for people who menstruate. This is something we’ve been talking about for years on Period Kaa Kura — why are pads taxed like luxury items when they’re a basic need? Why is menstruation still so expensive and ignored? This episode is about that win. But also about what still needs to change to make period products affordable and available for everyone. Tune in. Celebrate the moment. And keep pushing for change. #PeriodKaaKura #NoTaxOnPads #PeriodJustice #Nepal #TaxFreeMenstruation
Jun 25, 2025 · 0m
Episode 86- विद्यालयमा महिनावारी शिक्षा किन वैकल्पिक?
Did you know that Health, Population, and Environment (HPE) is no longer a compulsory subject in secondary grades in Nepal? This subject used to include important topics like menstruation, puberty, sexual and reproductive health. But now it’s been made optional. That change could have a big impact on how much young people learn about their own bodies. In this episode, we talk to two people who understand this issue deeply. Suman Silwal is the Education Officer at Ratnanagar Municipality and a former Curriculum Officer at the Curriculum Development Centre. Dev Bahadur Buda is a health teacher at Bheri Madhyamik Vidyalaya in Birendranagar. In this episode we explore what this change means in practice, what’s still being taught in schools, and what needs to improve. They remind us that it’s not just about having curriculum materials. It’s about making sure they are actually used in the classroom. Because periods and puberty are part of growing up. Education about them shouldn’t be optional.
May 27, 2025 · 0m
Episode 85- Dignified Menstruation: Who’s Shaping the Narrative in Nepal and Beyond?
In this episode of Period Kaa Kura, we sit down with activist and author Dr Radha Paudel to unpack Nepal’s recent National Assembly resolution on ending menstrual discrimination. This is more than just a policy win. It is a milestone in a long fight for justice, equality, and respect for all menstruators. We talked about the politics, the power dynamics, the language we use (and misuse), and why so much of what we think we know about menstruation might be shaped by others — donors, institutions, or traditions. This conversation goes deep into the heart of what still needs to change in Nepal: in our homes, schools, workplaces, and laws to truly make menstruation dignified. If you care about equality, voice, and menstrual justice – give this episode a listen.
Apr 8, 2025 · 0m
Episode 84- Endometriosis- The Invisible Pain
Severe period pain is NOT normal!👉 Do your periods feel like unbearable pain, making it hard to even get out of bed?👉 Have you visited doctors only to be told, “It’s just normal period cramps”?👉 Have you been silently suffering, not knowing that 1 in 10 people have endometriosis?Endometriosis is more than just "bad period pain".It’s a chronic condition that can lead to infertility, severe fatigue, and even depression. Yet, in Nepal, it remains largely undiagnosed, dismissed, and ignored.Why is endometriosis an ‘invisible disease’ in Nepal?How can we diagnose it earlier and seek the right treatment?What happens when society keeps normalising menstrual pain?In this episode, we sit down with Dr Shreyasi Aryal (gynaecologist, KMC hospital) to break the silence on endometriosis.
Mar 25, 2025 · 0m
Episode 84- Endometriosis: The Invisible Pain
Severe period pain is NOT normal! 👉 Do your periods feel like unbearable pain, making it hard to even get out of bed? 👉 Have you visited doctors only to be told, “It’s just normal period cramps”? 👉 Have you been silently suffering, not knowing that 1 in 10 people have endometriosis? Endometriosis is more than just "bad period pain." It’s a chronic condition that can lead to infertility, severe fatigue, and even depression. Yet, in Nepal, it remains largely undiagnosed, dismissed, and ignored. Why is endometriosis an ‘invisible disease’ in Nepal? How can we diagnose it earlier and seek the right treatment? What happens when society keeps normalizing menstrual pain? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Shreyasi Aryal (Gynaecologist, KMC hospital) to break the silence on endometriosis.
Mar 25, 2025 · 0m