Bali has introduced strict new regulations that prohibit menstruating tourists from entering temples across the Indonesian island paradise. The policy forms part of a broader initiative to address what local authorities describe as “misbehaving tourists.” These visitors fail to respect the island’s cultural and religious traditions.
According to a Metro report on March 24, Bali’s governor, Wayan Koster, unveiled the new guidelines. The rules include the explicit ban on women entering temples during menstruation. According to Visit Bali, this restriction stems from traditional beliefs that menstrual blood is “dirty” and would “make the temple become impure.”