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Koovagam is a village in the Ulundurpettai taluk in Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu.[1] It is famous for its annual festival of transgender individuals, which takes fifteen days in the Tamil month of Chitrai (April/May).[2]
The festival takes place at the Koothandavar Temple dedicated to Iravan (Koothandavar). The participants marry the Lord Koothandavar, thus reenacting an ancient history of Lord Vishnu/Krishna who married him after taking a form of a woman called Mohini. The next day, they mourn the god Koothandavar's death through ritualistic dances and by breaking their bangles. An annual beauty pageant and several other competitions like singing contests are held.[3]
Basic rights of transgender individuals and health care are discussed in seminars too. People attend this festival from all over India.
Location From Viluppuram 25 km and from Ulundurpet 15 km.
^Rural Housing Report for Financial year 2010-2011
^Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (2013), Under the Full Moon: The Aravan Fest, retrieved 24 March 2022
^Roy, Jeff (19 December 2014). "Unveiling Koovagam" (PDF). Columbia University – via Ciao Columbia International Affairs Online.
Koovagam is a village in the Ulundurpettai taluk in Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu. It is famous for its annual festival of transgender individuals...
his death. Krishna satisfied this boon in his female form, Mohini. In Koovagam, Tamil Nadu, this incident is re-enacted in an 18-day festival, first by...
eighteen-day annual festival in the Tamil month of Cittirai (April–May) at Koovagam. The marriage ceremony is re-enacted by transgender Hijras, who play the...
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cross-dressing devotees. These festivals include the Aravan Festival of Koovagam, the Bahuchara Mata Festivals of Gujarat and the Yellamma Festivals of...
of India: Qila Raipur Sports Festival Festival of ancient LGBT rituals: Koovagam temple festival Festival of bull running: Jallikattu Festival of cannabis:...
of India: Qila Raipur Sports Festival Festival of ancient LGBT rituals: Koovagam temple festival Festival of bull running: Jallikattu Festival of cannabis:...
artist Poornima Sukumar, derived inspiration from the Aravani Festival of Koovagam Temple in naming and creating the project that would eventually become...
of India: Qila Raipur Sports Festival Festival of ancient LGBT rituals: Koovagam temple festival Festival of bull running: Jallikattu Festival of cannabis:...
transgender Hijras or Aravanis – ritually marry the Hindu god Aravan and then mourn his ritual death (seen) in an 18-day festival in Koovagam, India....
and prominence, during a speech by a police officer, Mr. Ravi, at the Koovagam festival, which is marked as one of the largest transgender gatherings...
of India: Qila Raipur Sports Festival Festival of ancient LGBT rituals: Koovagam temple festival Festival of bull running: Jallikattu Festival of cannabis:...
between two men and explores the lives of trans women in the Aravan cult in Koovagam village in Tamil Nadu. ~1529 Emperor Babur's memoirs, the Baburnama, include...
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