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Saturday, July 09, 2005

Koovagam Festival

I saw a program on National Geographic about the Koovagam festival in India. Hadn't heard about this ever before.

Indian eunuchs' day in the sun
[article]

According to Hindu scripture, Aravan had to be sacrificed by his people, the Pandavas, to win a war. He asked to get married and enjoy sexual bliss on his last night alive.

To fulfil this wish, Lord Krishna briefly took on female form - then became a "widow" the next day.

At the Koovagam festival, not only thousands of visiting hijras but many ordinary young men from the neighbourhood, too, act out this role of bride. For once, the hijras are out of their ghetto, performing an age-old ritual. And they revel in it.

More :
http://www.chennaionline.com/society/aravaani.asp
http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/25463

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