Happy to Bleed campaign launched to protest Sabrimala Temple board decision to

Entry to the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala is barred for women of menstruating age, broadly categorised as women aged between 10 and 50 years, a restriction implemented in connection with the temple’s celibate deity.

“Friends, Devaswom chief of Sabrimala temple, Kerala has given a sexist statement that once purity checking machines are invented, that check whether it is “right time” or not, (whether women are menstruating or not) are invented, he will think about letting women enter”. Now, Mashable reports the recently appointed board president made it clear that he’s not changing the law any time soon.

Thiruvanathapuram: Sabarimala Temple Board’s controversial decision to install machines to test menstruating women has sparked outrage over social networking sites, triggering a campaign called “Happy to Bleed” to protest the move.

The temple priest’s comments, she says, reinforce misogyny and strengthen the myths that revolve around women, and that “Happy To Bleed” is a counter-campaign against menstrual taboos. “There will be a day when a machine is invented to scan if it is the right time for a woman to enter the temple. When that machine is invented, we will talk about letting women inside”, Gopalakrishnan is reported to have said to members of the Kollam Press Club.

The rules of this temple has a certain aspect of austerity and stiff rules involved including that of women not entering the temple and also keeping the body and mind completely cleansed during the 41 day period before approaching towards a pilgrimage to Sabarimala.

One taboo which Indian girls often face across the nation is the dilemma and social boycott surrounding periods.

“More than 100 women have posted their photographs on Facebook holding banners and placards, with catchy slogans, and many more have shared these photos on their timelines”, Ms Azad told the BBC. Hashtag #HappyToBleed is also trending on Twitter.

Happy to bleed. Not happy with your rubbish views on women.

“Happy, as a word, is used as a satire, a taunt, a comment, on patriarchal forces which attach the understanding of purity-impurity of women with menstruation”, she added.