A transgender bride getting ready for "Kummi adi" ritual which symbolizes happiness after getting married to Lord Koothandavar for a night as lightning hits at the background.
Evening scape of koothandavar Temple,koovagam where the occassion takes place.
A small pond near temple where transgenders take bath before heading to temple in the evening.
Transgender buying mangalsutra in a shop near the temple.
An elder transgender blessing a mangalsutra tied man.Getting blessed from an elder transgender on this day was considered highly auspicious.
Local men from near by villages flirt around transgenders on this particular evening.Taking pictures and selfies with them are common scenes out there.
Transgenders passing along a mangalsutra shop.
Transgender brides getting ready for "Kummi adi" ritual around a camp fire which symbolizes happiness after getting married to Lord Koothandavar for a night.
Transgender brides doing "Kummi adi" ritual around a camp fire which symbolizes happiness after getting married to Lord Koothandavar for a night.
Despite rain,shopkeeper near temple hoping for customers as silhouetted people passing by at the back.
Its impossible to see a Indian man tied with Mangalsutra.But here in this Festival,we can see scenes of a strange ritual of men getting tied with mangalsutra around logs of wood fire as a offering to lord Koothandavar for his wish to be granted.
Its not all about Transgenders in the festival.There are scenes of people from nearby Villages come and offering prayers for lord Koothandavar.A boy who has been raised up by his father on his Shoulders to get a sight of Lord Koothandavar amidst the crowd inside Koothandavar Temple.
After getting married ,transgenders are seen merrymaking with local men as one night brides.
Lot of young men from near by villages involve in seducing these transgender brides on this night.
On the next day morning,few kms away from temple in a place called "Bali Peedam" mourning rituals of widows of Aravaan takes place.Few recreational activities setup are also found there.
Transgenders enjoying their time in Merry go round at Bali peedam.
Transgender's mangalsutra ripped up from their neck marking the occasion of Mourning for Aravaan's Death.
Bangles of Transgenders broken up, a part of mourning ritual done portraying Aravaan's Death.
Transgenders doing "Oppari" (a means to express their sadness at a person's death) another ritual signifying the sad occasion.
Old man seen untying his mangalsutra on a ritual tree full of untied mangalsutras.
Lost Flowers from transgender hair are seen hanging out in near by trees.
At the end after a dip from near by well and ponds,Transgenders wear white saree,a widow costume.And till that day arrives next year, they have to rely on the grace of Aravaan to take them through the rough times to come.
