Hijra Devotees of Goddess Yellamma

Hijra Devotees of Goddess Yellamma, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

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These are South Indian hijras known as Aravanis, they are staunch devotees of Goddess Yellamma..they beg with dignity, robust full of life..they stay in a group of three or four.. these are beggar hijras of the streets of Mumbai..

One place they consider paradise is Koovagam - Koothandavar near Vilupuram , Chennai.
The eunuch festival they would not miss for anything in the world , the hijras get married to Lord Iravan , and the following morning they mourn his death by becoming widows , they break their bangles cry weep..

Most of the Mumbai hijras avoid Koovagam, because of the crass commercialism and open sexuality prevailing there, yes dont be surprised seeing a sea of condoms,hijra sex is rampant and procured at a price I am told..

The middle income hijras and the very affluent ones, one finds moving towards Ajmer Sharif, the Urus of Khwajah Moinuddin Chishty, this is place they generously give away their wealth , feeding the poor, donating to the orphanage, and it is said the Holy Saint gives them double the amount they spend..Yes the Holy Saint has a special regard for these children of a lesser God..

They dance the street along with the chaddar , they look like prima donnas , these dancers unseen anywhere in the world ...no gay parade can match the dancing steps of the hijras on this path of emotional sanctity,..

But one subject I plan to go deeper into is the Hijra Bawas of Ajmer , as I am cut up for time I have never been able to chat or understand their spiritual agenda..but I think I must be the only guy who shot the Hijra Rafaee..at Haji Malang and in Mumbai.



Ajmer Sharif is the Hijra spiritual sanctuary