Koovagam Festival 2012

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Koovagam is a village in the Ulundurpettai taluk located at a distance of 25 Km from Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu. It is famous for its annual festival of transgender and transvestite individuals, which takes place for eighteen days in the tamil month of Chitirai(April/May) at Koothandeswarar temple,the temple of Lord Aravan. • The History: • Aravan,son of Pandava prince Arjuna,is a minor character from the Hindu epic of Mahabharata. He is also a patron god of well-known transgender communities called thirunangai (also Aravani in South India, and Hijra throughout South Asia). The Mahabharata portrays Aravan as legendary hero who sacrifice his life in the 18-day Kurukshetra War (Mahabharata war). However, the South Indian cults have a supplementary tradition of honouring Aravan's self-sacrifice to the goddess Kali for the victory of the Pandavas in the war. The Koothandavar festival focuses on one of the three boons granted to Aravan by the god Krishna in honour of his self-sacrifice. Aravan wanted to get married before his death. Krishna satisfied aravan's boon by taking a female form, Mohini.The Next Day, Aravan sacrificed his life and Mohini grieved like a widow. • Koovagam Festival: • Transgenders and cross-dressers from all over India and neighboring countries visit Koovagam for this festival.The Transgender and male villagers (who have taken vows to Aravan) marry the Lord Koothandavar, thus reenacting the ancient myth .The next day, they mourn the god Koothandavar's death through ritualistic dances,Oppari and by breaking their bangles and cutting the thalis. • The Wedding: • This year(2012) wedding was happened on 1st May . • Thousands of transgender dressing up as a bride of Aravan, and walking to the temple to get a 'thali' tied. • Transgenders danced and sang songs around small bonfires, celebrating their wedding and making their 'spouse' happy.For them, the festival is about love, pain and sacrifice. • After tying the 'thali' in the temple, the 'first night' was celebrated with great pomp. The entire village was awake and scores of outsiders came to the temple to offer prayers. • The Day of Sacrifice...2nd May 2012: • As the chariot with the idol of Aravan began its procession around the village, those who had tied the 'thali' began to cut it. They then broke their bangles, wore white sarees to depict widowhood, and sang songs to mourn his death. • Thanks to Wikipedia • Music Credits to Maestro Ilayaraja • Director of Photography Editing:Premkumar Sachidanandam • For Photo Documentary: http://www.flickr.com/photos/prem_spa... • Sparkcrews Studios| www.sparkcrews.com -© All Rights Reserved • Follow us @ / 103282006425406

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