5 Banned | Prohibited Places in Nepal for Women – Only Men are Allowed to Go

Given below are few of the places where only men are allowed to go and women not allowed. Some of these points are cultural, some traditional and some just cause of social stigma. Nepal is a country where gender is still an issue that needs addressing when it comes to the segregation of male and female in the social setting. Socially, men and women are treated very differently and it has been going on for ages.

Therefore, there are places and things that welcome men but are closed off from women at all costs. Men and women have different standings in the society and one is different than the other. So, in few cases, it is normal even to have segregated places for men and women. Places where men can go and can not go, as well as places where women can go and men cannot.

Here are some 5 places and things where women are not allowed to go in Nepal, only men can go in these places. So, get the information about banned or prohibited places in Nepal for women, ladies, girls:

5 Places Where Women Are Not Allowed to Go in Nepal, Only Men Can Go

1. Monastery

Nepal has a lot of monasteries where monks practice their religious way of lives. Few of these monasteries are such that only monks reside inside these monasteries. And for obvious reasons, women not allowed to go inside such monasteries. In the case of women, Buddhists make a different setting where only nuns can stay and learn and practice their Buddhist way of lives. So, the monastery is one place where only men are allowed to go and women are not. Even for those visiting from outside, women not allowed, only the men are allowed.

2. All Temples where Main Priest is always Male

In most of the temples in Nepal, for example, the most popular and revered one is the Pashupatinath Temple. Here, the head priest is always a male. And, he is the one who does the day and night puja and traditional stuff in and around the temple. Even for those who visit the temple, they are not allowed all the way in. Whatever we have taken with us, we have to give it to the head priest and he is the one who would offer it to the main God inside.

So, this way, in temples only men are the head priests and women not allowed to go completely inside the main temple and do the traditional and religious rituals that are required. This ritual is there not only in Pashupatinath but in many of such temples in Nepal where priests are always men and women not allowed inside the main temple.

3. Any Religious/cultural/social Occasion while menstruating

One of the taboos in Nepal is menstruation. This natural phenomenon that every woman goes through in her life is made such a taboo subject that women in those days cannot really do anything or partake in any religious/cultural activities. So much so that, even inside her own house, she cannot go inside the kitchen, or inside the holy rooms. Similarly, she can not go to temples, places of religious importance or take part in any cultural activities.

Although it is a taboo and is culturally inaccurate, this is still followed by the society. So, on those days, women not allowed to go anywhere that males can go all the year round. It is a very serious issue. Nowadays, especially in the urban areas of Nepal, this condition is slowly changing. But, there is still a long way to go and it will take a long time before this custom is totally eradicated.

Nepali Young woman inside a Chhaupadi shed

4. Funeral Pyre to perform the last rites

Whenever there is a funeral in the family or in the society. It is a custom that women are not supposed to go with the group of family members to the place where funeral takes place. Only men are allowed to carry the dead body of their loved once and cremate or burn it as per the religious and cultural process. In those occasions, traditionally women are allowed to do the final rites for even their own parents. It is either a brother or the male member of the family that does all the last rites. This custom is also slowly changing in the modern parts of Nepal where women are also taking part in social and cultural activities. But, traditionally, it is not allowed and still to this day, there are many societies that follow this culture and custom.

Funeral Pyre to perform the last rites in Nepal

See also: 5 Banned | Prohibited Places in Nepal for Men – Only Women are Allowed to Go

5. Performing Bratabandha

Bratabandha is the Nepali coming of age ceremony. This is the occasion on which, only the males in the family perform. Women not allowed to perform this ritual. The male child who has come of age and crossed the age of being a child and is now considered an adult, for that male child, this ritual is conducted. It is one of those culturally important rituals. That a male child has to do in order to take part in various other religious rituals.

Bratabandha

It is to be observed by the males belonging to brahmin and kshatriya caste. Without doing Bratabandha, they cannot conduct or participate in few of other cultural/religious occasions. So, it is a crucial thing in a male child’s life. Men are not allowed to marry also if he has not had bra ta bandha. For a female child, there is no such necessity. The female child need not do anything of that sort. For women, there is a different ceremony where such transition is celebrated. In that ceremony, only the females are allowed.

These are few of the places and cultural and religious instances where only men are allowed and women not allowed to take part.

Women not allowed and they cannot participate. Some are cultural, some are mere perceptions and some are really strict religious beliefs that we cannot dare to go against. But, as the times are changing, any religious instances where women and men are segregated and one is given preference over the other, it is condemned. For instance, nowadays there is a good amount of criticism for making a girl child live secluded in unhygienic condition away from home whenever she goes through menstruation.

Article by – Asmita Sharma

5 Places Where Women Are Not Allowed to Go in Nepal, Only Men Can Go