14-year-old Kavita Singh Thakuri of Athabis Municipality-6, Dailekh, studies in class 10 at Chandika Secondary School, Chiltada, Panchdeval Vinayak Municipality-9, Achham. Since last June, she has been absent from class for almost a month. The reason for this is that the bridge used for regular crossing has been blocked, there is a temple on the other side of the alternative bridge. There is a 'belief' that you cannot cross that bridge when you are menstruating.

On May 27, the Jholunge bridge on the Karnali River connecting Panchdeval Vinayak-9 Kalekanda and Dailekh in Achham was unable to bear the load of 13 khachads carrying goods. The collapsed suspension bridge has not been repaired yet. Alternatively, another bridge one kilometer away has to be built . On both sides of that bridge there is a temple of Nainel deity . Locals say that even after menstruation, there is a traditional belief that one cannot worship and go near the temple for four to five days . "When we have our period, we go to Draider school from the bridge next to Kolte, otherwise we miss school every month." And about 25 students of class 10 miss 10 days of study in a month . There is a school rule to pay a fine of Rs 20 per day for non-attendance. "They say it is unlucky to walk across the temple bridge when you are menstruating, we are also afraid to walk," said another student, Geeta Sunar, "If you don't go to school, you will miss your studies, and you have to pay a fine to the school." 

Last May, after the log of suspension bridge was broken, it takes about an hour for the students of Dailekhpatti to reach school using the alternative bridge . "If you go through the first bridge, you could reach school in 10 minutes," said Tulsi Chaulagai, 28-5, who is studying in class 7 at Chandika Mavi.

Janak Neupane, the teacher of Chandika Mavi, said that there has been an increase in student irregularity recently. Some female students take risks and come to school. Most of the female students are absent from school for 10 days of menstruation, it is not normal to miss 10 days of studies every month,' he said, 'students who studied well before are now getting weaker.' He also said that it was possible to run only because of the students of Dailekh. The teacher Neupane said that even when he suggested to come from the bridge where the temple is located, the female students did not come because of the fear created in their hearts since time immemorial. 

This matter was also discussed in the Parliament. Stakeholders had sent technical staff to the field to study the condition of the bridge. The report of the technical team concluded that the bridge should be constructed as it is not possible to operate it only by repairing it.

Locals complain that with the passing of time, the stakeholders are also forgetting the incident. Due to the necessity of using the detour route, some people of Achham and Dailekh took the risk of crossing the bridge from the collapsed bridge.

Locals believe that they will not be able to cross the bridge where the temple is located. Bhanadevi Karki of Panchadeval Vinayak-9 said that it is believed that even pregnant women who have reached 8 months cannot move from the bridge near the temple.

It is said that one should not cross a bridge during pregnancy. Even here, there is a big god's temple near the bridge. You have to go to the market even after 8/9 months of pregnancy. Medical is also there . There is no Dhar without going through this dilapidated bridge.' 

Ward president of Panchdeval Vinayak-9 Ramprasad says that women and girls are unable to break the old tradition due to fear of local people having a lot of faith in the Ninel deity. "Due to another bridge being unfit, pregnant and menstruating women are coming to the market of Dailekh's Khidkijeula from the bridge that has been cut with sticks," he said, "The stakeholders have been silent about the construction of the bridge." "But it was not built as a substitute for the wooden suspension bridge, it was already being built," he said.

Because there are temples of the Ninel deity on both sides, the local people had already requested to build a bridge at least 10 meters below, but the stakeholders did not listen, said Jaisi, the ward head. "Since it is a matter related to religious faith, the locals requested to build the bridge at another place during the survey three years ago, but the technical staff chose the place without listening," he said.

While dragging the god Ninel to Karnali, he informed that the temple was built on both sides of that place as a respect by making a rope made of thituwa (thread). It is believed that by making a bridge of raw thread, it is possible only because of the divine power to cross the deity easily . "Pregnant and menstruating people are afraid to go to the place where the temple of such a great deity is believed," he said.