Hijaras getting ready to be married to the South Indian temple god, in an age-old rite performed by the sweating, topless temple priest, a re-enactment of the marriage of Mohini (a female incarnation of Lord Krishna) and Aravan related in the Hindu mythological epic, Mahabharata.
Hijaras getting ready (wearing sari and make up) to be married to the South Indian temple god, in an age-old rite performed by the sweating, topless temple priest, a re-enactment of the marriage of Mohini (a female incarnation of Lord Krishna) and Aravan related in the Hindu mythological epic, Mahabharata.
Bride of Aravan being “married” to the god inside the Koothandavar Temple, the South Indian temple god, in an age-old rite performed by the sweating, topless temple priest, a re-enactment of the marriage of Mohini (a female incarnation of Lord Krishna) and Aravan related in the Hindu mythological epic, Mahabharata. Another hijra (tranny) friend looks on. The marriage lasts for only one festive night then the god is killed in effigy and the brides become wailing widows the next day.
The night before the annual Aravan temple festival in Villupuram, South India, hijras or transsexuals go out in the streets cruising the straight men, most of whom are macho types with mustaches.
Auspicious rice-flour mandala (calledn Rangoli in Hindi language) painted on the ground to mark the various halting points of the chariot of Aravan as it is borne through the streets in procession, Aravan temple festival, Villupurum, South India.
As the chariot of the god Aravan is pulled in procession, shop-keepers and devotees make propitiatory offerings such as flowers, incense and these piles of husked coconuts, offerings of burnt camphor are made to the god Aravan as the deity passes by in procession.The Koothandavar Temple of Aravan is visible in the background.
The red image of Aravan, being pulled through the streets in procession by mostly hijra (trans-sexual) devotees.
Hijaras dancing at annual Aravan temple festival, Villupurum, South India.
The menopause that refreshes. Hijras relax drinking a cuppa chai (sweetened milk tea).
Hijaras tying 'ghungroo' (anklet as seen) on legs to dance in Aravan temple festival, south of Chennai (Madras) which attracts hijras (transsexuals) from all over India.
The wailing widows of Aravan. After the god is symbolically killed those hijras (transsexuals) who had been ritually married to the god the night before now express their grief at being single and alone once again, ridiculed and ostracized as third gender freaks. Annual Aravan temple festival, Villupurum, South India.
Breaking the glass bangles with coconut husk to prevent injury. Broken bangles are the symbol of widowhood. The “brides” of Aravan are “widowed” the next day after the god is killed in effigy.
After the symbolic death of Aravan, the “brides” of the previous night become widows by taking a ritualistic bath in this bathing tank and donning white. The pool is lined with lecherous men waiting for the gay “widows”.
Old age Hijara.
Four hijras (transsexuals) dressed in white, the traditional Hindu garb of widowhood, the morning after their newly-wed “husband”, the god Aravan, is symbolically killed in effigy. The Aravan temple festival, Villupurum, South India.
Prakriti Sahodaran counselors who work with hijras (trans-sexuals) in South India take a break from the annual Aravan festival and enjoy their lunch of rice and curry on banana leaves. Like most South Indian men they are dressed simply and comfortably in a wrap-around loin cloth known as a lungi.
A hijra plucks the whiskers from her boyfriend’s face in the hotel room. Later the couple will get “married” in the temple of Aravan.
Sahodaran worker gets ready to go out for work at the annual Aravan festival which attracts transsexuals from all over the country.
Sahodaran worker named Samson, a counselor for Prakriti Sahodaran, a men’s sexual health project poses as he gets ready to go out for work at the annual Aravan festival which attracts transsexuals from all over the country.
Samson, a counselor for Prakriti Sahodaran, a men sexual health project powders up as he gets ready to go out for work at the annual Aravan festival which attracts trans-sexuals from all over the country.
Aruna, one of the more attractive trannies poses with an admiring taxi-driver whom she picked up on her way from the Aravan festival back to the hotel, Villupuram.
Transsexuals or eunuchs (known as hijras or alis) in South India dress up for the annual temple festival in which the hijras get “married” to a god and then windowed the next day when the god is symbolically killed.
A hijra (eunuchs) putting make-up at Prakriti Sahodaran sponsored beauty pageant, Villupuram.
The hands of a hijra displaying sequined nail-polish.
A Hijra poses before going out for the evening, Aravan Festival.
A Hijra poses before going out for the evening, Aravan Festival. Rosie (hijara in black sari) said, “God listens to our prayers. With a word, we can make or break a man’s fortune.”
Contestants performing @ Prakriti Sahodaran-sponsored, drag beauty pageant, Aravan Temple Festival, Villupurum , South India.
Contestants in the audience watching Prakriti Sahodaran-sponsored, drag beauty pageant, Aravan Temple Festival, Villupurum , South India.
Hijaras dancing. Called “minstrels of the night”, the hijras are South Asia’s ridiculed and ostracized third gender-eunuchs and trans-sexuals-who are deemed auspicious at wedding parties and birth ceremonies- but otherwise outcast as nature’s freaks.
Hijaras counting cash collected by dancing. Called “minstrels of the night”, the hijras are South Asia’s ridiculed and ostracized third gender-eunuchs and trans-sexuals-who are deemed auspicious at wedding parties and birth ceremonies- but otherwise outcast as nature’s freaks.
Called “minstrels of the night”, the Hijaras.
Winner of hijra beauty contest receives her crowning award from real lady in blue sari.This contestant was chosen after successfully performing difficult dance involving balancing plates and juggling fire at the same time.
Sahodaran worker as Delilah in drag, catching the last rays of the setting sun before going out for the evening.
A hijras in a hotel room during the Aravan festival. The hotel was completely booked with hijras turning it into a Grand Hotel of Drag.
Gay men’s health workers from Madras striking an artistic pose.
Enthusiastic contestants after the Prakriti Sahodaran-sponsored, drag beauty pageant, runs dancing on the main street lane.
Hijaras on their way to the annual Aravan temple festival south of Chennai (Madras) which attracts hijras (transsexuals) from all over India.
Straight gawkiers enjoy and tease as the parade of hijras pass on the streets of Villupurum gathered for an annual festival of transsexuals at the Temple of Aravan.
The Prakriti Sahodaran social workers on their way to the annual Aravan temple festival south of Chennai (Madras) which attracts hijras (trans-sexuals) from all over India. The Sahodaran workers in drag pass out condoms and give counseling to the trans-sexuals.
The Prakriti Sahodaran social workers on their way to the annual Aravan temple festival south of Chennai (Madras) which attracts hijras (transsexuals) from all over India. The Sahodaran workers in drag pass out condoms and give counseling to the trans-sexual.
