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.

Aravan Festival celebrated in late April/early May, is attended by thousands – including many transgenders and homosexuals. The aravani worship the Hindu god, Aravan, and do not practice any system of castration.

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Thomas Kelly > 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.

Thomas Kelly > 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.

Thomas Kelly > 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.

Thomas Kelly > 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.

Thomas Kelly > 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.

Thomas Kelly > 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.

Thomas Kelly > The red image of Aravan, being pulled through the streets in procession by mostly hijra (trans-sexual) devotees.

Thomas Kelly > Hijaras dancing at annual Aravan temple festival, Villupurum, South India.

Thomas Kelly > The menopause that refreshes. Hijras relax drinking a cuppa chai (sweetened milk tea).

Thomas Kelly > 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.

Thomas Kelly > 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.

Thomas Kelly > 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.

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.