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Pinkathon: Turning Menstrual Health into Everyday Conversation

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  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. menstrual-health-into-everyday-conversation.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, December 10th 2025 at 9:36 GMT by RepublicWorld

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Pinkathon: Turning Menstrual Health into Everyday Conversation

In recent years, the conversation around menstruation has begun to shift from taboo to tabulated, thanks in part to grassroots movements, corporate advocacy and public‑sector initiatives that champion “normalising” period talk. One of the most creative and far‑reaching examples of this movement is the Pinkathon—an annual, city‑wide event that invites men, women, students, businesses and community groups to discuss menstruation openly, celebrate the cycle and support those who face stigma and lack of access to basic menstrual products. The event, which began as a modest hackathon‑style gathering in Mumbai in 2021, has now grown into a national phenomenon, drawing tens of thousands of participants, media coverage and policy attention. The following article outlines how Pinkathon is turning menstrual health into mainstream dialogue, summarises its key activities, impact, and the broader significance of normalising period conversations.

The Problem: Menstrual Stigma and Inadequate Access

In India, menstrual health remains a “silent” issue. Women and girls still confront shame, myths and a lack of sanitary products—especially in rural and low‑income areas. A 2020 survey by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS‑5) highlighted that nearly 40% of girls in rural schools reported skipping classes because they had no clean pad or tampon. The stigma surrounding period talk is so ingrained that the phrase “period” is often avoided in public spaces, and the topic is rarely discussed in schools or workplaces.

The problem is two‑fold. First, stigma—people are reluctant to speak openly about periods because of cultural taboos and misinformation. Second, access—many households cannot afford commercial sanitary products, or there is simply no retail infrastructure for menstrual hygiene supplies. While the Indian government has taken steps such as the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme and free distribution of pads to schoolgirls, the lack of open conversation means that these initiatives often fall short of their potential reach.

The Genesis of Pinkathon

Pinkathon was born out of this context, conceived by a group of menstrual‑health advocates, designers, and technology professionals who noticed that hackathon‑style collaborations could catalyze innovative solutions for public health. The inaugural event, held in March 2021 in Mumbai, aimed to bring together engineers, designers, and health experts to create “low‑cost, high‑impact menstrual health solutions.”

The name—Pinkathon—is a playful nod to the pink colour traditionally associated with periods, combined with the suffix "-athon," evoking a marathon of ideas. From the first edition, the organisers made it clear that the event was not just about tech‑solutions; it was a platform for dialogue—to break the silence around menstruation and empower participants to become advocates.

The Format and Activities

Each year, Pinkathon expands beyond a single hackathon, evolving into a city‑wide festival that spans multiple days. The core components include:

1. Panel Discussions & Keynote Speeches
   Renowned menstrual health activists, researchers and public‑sector officials open the event. They share stories, research findings and policy updates, while also engaging in interactive Q&A sessions with the audience.

2. Hackathon for Social Impact
   Participants—often students, start‑ups and NGOs—form interdisciplinary teams to develop innovative products or services. These could range from 3D‑printed reusable pads to mobile apps that track menstrual health and provide educational content. The hackathon runs for 48 hours, culminating in pitches judged by a panel of industry experts.

3. Workshops on Design Thinking & Public Health Communication
   These sessions help participants understand user‑centric design and how to translate complex health topics into digestible, stigma‑free content. They also cover best practices for community outreach and partnership building.

4. Public Exhibitions & Product Demos
   A showcase area lets attendees see prototypes, prototypes and product prototypes. Visitors can interact with the inventions, ask questions, and purchase or pre‑order products.

5. Community “Menstrual‑Health Circles”
   These informal gatherings are designed for people to share personal experiences, ask questions, and challenge myths in a supportive environment. The circles are facilitated by trained volunteers and sometimes incorporate storytelling, art and music.

6. “Pinks in the Street” Awareness Campaign
   Organisers launch street‑level activations—chalk art, street theatre and pop‑up stalls—to spread messages like “Period is a part of life” and to distribute free sanitary pads in underserved neighbourhoods.

7. Media & Digital Outreach
   Through partnerships with local media, blogs, podcasts and social‑media influencers, Pinkathon ensures that its messaging reaches beyond the event. The hashtag #Pinkathon is often used to create a viral trend.

Impact: From Buzz to Behaviour Change

While it can be difficult to measure the immediate impact of a single event, several key outcomes highlight Pinkathon’s influence:

• Increased Public Dialogue: A survey of 1,200 participants after the 2022 edition showed that 82% reported that they had felt more comfortable discussing menstrual health in their households or workplaces.

• Product Development and Scale‑up: Several prototypes from the 2021 hackathon—such as an affordable, biodegradable pad and a menstrual health education app—have since attracted seed funding, entered pilot programmes in rural districts, and received media coverage in national outlets.

• Policy Influence: The 2023 Pinkathon’s panel on “Menstrual Health Policy” was attended by state health ministers and contributed to a draft amendment in the Ministry of Women & Child Development’s policy framework, emphasising community‑based distribution of sanitary products.

• Capacity Building: Over 5,000 volunteers were trained in menstrual‑health education and community mobilisation during the 2022 edition, enabling sustained local outreach in 30+ districts.

• Media Visibility: The event has been featured in national newspapers (The Hindu, The Times of India), regional outlets, and online platforms like The Wire, Republic World and YouTube, generating over 500,000 views and millions of social‑media interactions.

The event’s success is reflected in its ability to bring diverse stakeholders—from corporate sponsors to school teachers—to a common table, discussing menstrual health without fear of ridicule or embarrassment. The normalisation of the conversation is also evident in the way corporate sponsors incorporate “Menstrual Health” into their CSR agendas and workplace policies, often providing free menstrual kits or conducting employee training.

Why Pinkathon Matters: Beyond Products

The real triumph of Pinkathon lies in its cultural impact. By positioning menstruation as a public health and social justice issue, it reframes the conversation: from “women’s problem” to “everyone’s responsibility.” This shift is essential for:

• Breaking Stigma: Open conversation reduces shame and the feeling of isolation that many women and girls experience. When a period is openly discussed in schools, offices and homes, it normalises the biology and helps build empathy.

• Driving Policy and Funding: When public dialogue expands, pressure mounts on policymakers to allocate resources for menstrual hygiene and education. Pinkathon has contributed to the inclusion of menstrual health modules in school curricula in states like Telangana and Karnataka.

• Encouraging Innovation: The hackathon element catalyses product‑based solutions, encouraging start‑ups and NGOs to develop low‑cost, culturally appropriate options, such as reusable pads, water‑less cleaning methods and community‑driven distribution networks.

• Community Empowerment: The “Menstrual‑Health Circles” and street‑level activations empower women to be active participants in their health, while also mobilising men and boys to become allies.

• Building Alliances: The event’s cross‑sector partnerships—between NGOs, corporates, academia and the government—demonstrate the feasibility of a multi‑stakeholder approach to a complex problem.

Looking Ahead: Scaling and Sustainability

In the future, Pinkathon organisers are aiming to:

1. Broaden Geographical Reach: By partnering with local NGOs, they plan to run “Mini‑Pinkathon” events in tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities and rural districts, using mobile units to reach remote populations.

2. Strengthen Digital Platforms: A dedicated app will offer menstrual‑health education, peer‑support forums, and a marketplace for low‑cost products.

3. Integrate with Education Systems: They intend to embed menstrual‑health modules into school curricula and teacher training programmes, ensuring that every child receives accurate information.

4. Advocate for Policy Reforms: Working with civil‑society coalitions, Pinkathon aims to lobby for mandatory free menstrual kit distribution in public schools and better taxation policies on sanitary products.

5. Sustain Community Engagement: The organisers plan to create a network of “Pinkathon Champions”—trained volunteers who will run local workshops and community dialogues in their neighborhoods.

Conclusion

Pinkathon illustrates how creative, inclusive events can transform a taboo into a mainstream conversation. By combining hackathon ingenuity with community dialogue, it addresses both the psychological barrier (stigma) and the practical barrier (access) of menstrual health. Its ripple effects—policy influence, product innovation, and cultural change—show that normalising period talk is not merely a social nicety but a vital public‑health imperative.

The movement’s success is a reminder that health is a collective endeavour. Whether it is a 48‑hour coding sprint, a street‑level chalk mural, or a policy briefing, every action contributes to a larger narrative: that menstruation, like any other biological function, deserves to be understood, respected and cared for, irrespective of gender or geography. As Pinkathon continues to grow, it offers a replicable model for other countries facing similar challenges, underscoring the power of dialogue, innovation and community partnership in driving social progress.