IN PICS | Koovagam — The Transgender Community's Festival In Tamil Nadu

In a 18-day long festival conducted in Koovagam village in Kallakurichi district, the transwomen first participate in a beauty pageant where one of them is crowned as Miss Koovagam 2022

This year a transwoman from Chennai, Mehandi, was crowned as Miss Koovagam 2022

After the beauty pageant, the transwomen attend Koothandavar temple festivities. Until the last day of the festival, transwomen sing, dance and celebrate. Several NGOs also conduct HIV/AIDs awareness campaign

On the day of main festivities, the transwomen dress up to marry Aravan. A mythological character in Hindu epic Mahabharata

As per mythology, during the bloody battle of Pandavas with their cousins, the Pandavas were forced to sacrifice a valiant solider Aravan and as a last wish unmarried Aravan wanted to get married before his death

So Lord Krishna in order to fulfill the wish of Aravan became an angel Mohini and got married. Therefore, the transwomen buy nuptial threads

Later, they get married with temple priests tying the nuptials

On the day, they'll celebrate their marriage and feel contented with their life

The temple authorities also take Lord Shri Koothandavar in a procession

However, after one night since Aravan is believed to be sacrificed in the war, the transwomen imagine themselves as a 'widow' and do final rites to Aravan