Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026): Bloodlines of the Sacred: Menstruation, Myth, and Cultural Memory in South Asian Traditions
Across the vast tapestry of South Asia, menstruation has long held a place not of shame, but of sacred significance. Rooted in ancient philosophies and earth-based wisdom, the menstrual cycle has been ritually observed, celebrated, and embedded into the cultural fabric of diverse communities—from the Goddess Kamakhya’s symbolic bleeding in Assam to the menstrual rest of Mother Earth during Raja Parba in Odisha. Raja, or Raja Parba, is a vibrant and unique three-day festival in Odisha where the earth herself is believed to menstruate. Agricultural activities are suspended, young girls swing in decorated yards, and festive foods are shared—all symbolising respect for nature's generative force and the restoration of feminine vitality. This ritual is a powerful reminder of how menstruation, when viewed through the lens of indigenous ecology, becomes a metaphor for renewal, fertility, and cosmic equilibrium.
Such cultural practices challenge dominant biomedical and patriarchal interpretations of menstruation. The Ambubachi Mela in Assam venerates the annual cycle of a goddess’s body; the Ritu Kala ceremonies in the South honour a girl’s transition into womanhood with gifts, ritual baths, and blessings. Tribal traditions across the central belt construct menstruation as both a spiritual threshold and a collective rite. This proposed scholarly volume seeks to reframe menstruation as a locus of cultural knowledge, spiritual agency, and ecological consciousness. Contributors are encouraged to explore cross-disciplinary approaches, ranging from ethnography and ritual studies to environmental humanities, folklore, disability studies, theology, and reproductive rights.
By re-engaging with rituals like Raja, the issue aims to revive and reinterpret the earth-based epistemologies that see menstruation not as pollution but as power, not as silence but as story.
Guest Editor: Dr Reshmi Deb Choudhury Das
About Dr Reshmi DC Das:
Dr Reshmi Deb Choudhury Das, a PhD Guide, Associate Professor, and Head, Department of English and Communication Skills, Mandsaur University. She comes with a rich, diverse experience spanning across Technical Institutions, Engineering Colleges and Universities, and has completed fourteen years of teaching experience. Dr Reshmi completed her PhD in English from Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore, and completed 150 hours of International teaching license from Westminster College, London.
Currently, she is actively involved in content development for ESL learners in and around the Malwa region, Madhya Pradesh
She has published 10 research articles in Scopus-indexed and peer-reviewed journals and two books with chapters ISBNs to her credit. Attended more than 30 FDPs, both national and international FDPs, and presented papers in various national & international conferences. Deliver a talk as a resource person on various platforms.
