Joy and pain as transgender Indians ‘wed’ Hindu god

INDIA: Jyoti, a 62-year-old transgender Indian who was born a man, saves up money every year to buy a beautiful new wedding dress for a festival at which she gets married to a Hindu god.

This year, she played her role as a “bride” wearing a blue silk brocade sari that cost 15,000 rupees ($338) nearly 2 months’ earnings.

The “groom” at the annual festival in Koovagam, Tamil Nadu, was Aravan, a Hindu god celebrated as a young warrior who was killed in the ancient epic, the Mahabharata.

Heavily made-up and dripping with gold jewellery, hundreds of transgender brides excitedly discussed their wedding plans as they queued to marry Aravan in his temple.

“I have been attending the festival for 15 years,” said Jyoti, who lives in Mumbai, where like other transgender groups she makes money through donations collected at birth ceremonies and other family occasions.

“On my wedding day, I always wear real gold earrings, a necklace, bangles, anklets, and have jasmine flowers in my hair,” she said. “I do this once a year.”

The wedding date, decided according to the Tamil calendar, is the climax of an 18-day spring festival honouring Aravan.

According to Hindu mythology, before he went into battle knowing he would die, Aravan asked the god Krishna for one night with a woman. Koovagam, Tuesday, AFP