Entry Title: "
The third sex "
Name:
Ryan Lobo,
India
Entry Description: Thousands of hermaphrodites, homosexuals and transsexuals also called the third sex” or “aravanis“ attend the annual Aligal thiruvazha festival to be married to the deity Aravanan and to each other in a life-affirming ritual of intense emotional and spiritual significance. A marriage that ends in symbolic divorce – the marriage a distillate of an "aravanis" life - ecstasy, despair and loss.
1 A couple poses, policeman watches.
2 An aravani buys a mangalsutra, hindu equivalent of a wedding band
3 A priest marries an aravani to lord Aravanan
4 Aravanis celebrate after being married
5 Aravanis mourn after being symbolically divorced
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