Mumbai, Jan. 25 -- In a classroom in Ratnagiri, a group of young girls sit around a colourful board game. They throw the dice, move their pieces, read cards aloud, amid laughter, curiosity, and questions, this might seem like a regular game hour but it isn't. The board game, while fun and entertaining, is called 'Play Period' and teaches students about menstruation. The game's designers, Kavita Sawant and Divya Subramanyam, both 37, are trained architects from Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies, Juhu. However, their concern for social issues pushed them beyond buildings and design to address a topic that is often ignored, misunderstood or shrouded in shame. When the two friends created 'Play Period' their aim was to help girls understand periods in a friendly and fear-free way. Sawant said, "According to UNICEF, nearly 70% of adolescent girls in India are unaware of menstruation until they experience it for the first time. This creates fear, confusion and health problems. We felt that giving them correct information early, in a joyful way, could change this." According to the duo, they came up with the idea for Play Period while working on sustainable development projects. Through fellowships and fieldwork, they realised that smaller towns and cities needed attention when it came to health education. They soon noticed that even when sanitation facilities exist, girls do not have the right knowledge about their bodies, hygiene and menstruation. Following its conception in 2023, Play Period was designed by Sawant and Subramanyam and developed with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK. So far it has been used in several community workshops in Ratnagiri, where over 400 students have benefitted from it. Highlighting the board game's unique aspects, Sawant said, "Unlike most mobile apps available in the market, Play Period does not focus on tracking menstrual dates or warning about physical pain. The game goes deeper, talks about hormones, body changes, hygienic practices, and even social myths." Sadhana Parihar, a nine-year-old student in Ratnagiri said, "Play Period was so much fun. This is the first time I have come across a school event where we played a board game. We enjoyed the game and also learnt so many things. Periods are fun. Can I take this game home?" Working to expand the project, Sawant said, "An app version is being developed and a software patent has also been filed to protect the idea." The game has also helped parents like Mamata Devi, a 36-year-old mother of two daughters who are both approaching puberty. Devi said, "Several of my menstruation myths were disproved in the workshop. I thought that if I watered plants during my periods, I would end up killing them. I will make sure that such myths don't get passed on to my daughters." While speaking to HT about the initiative, Fatima Aziz Kader, assistant professor, department of foods, nutrition and dietetics, at the College of Home Science Nirmala Niketan (Autonomous) said, "The unique feature of this game is that it encourages discussion around menstruation and builds confidence in rural adolescents to be comfortable to speak about their reproductive health."...