Hijras

Of course, the dark side is castration, violence against them, prostitution, social ostracisation, no employment avenues....

Violence is sometimes instigated by the hijras using profanity or obscene comments and gestures while begging.

That must have been 11001

Absolutely! I sometimes run into a bunch of hijiras at the Nizammuddin Dargah in Delhi. I think they incorporate both Islamic and Hindu elements into their culture. Interestingly, their death ceremonies are strictly secret and its not know whether they are buried or burnt. Not that I could care either way, its the secrecy I find intriguing!
I recall reading a book on the subject of Hijiras titled THE INVISIBLES - insightful read if you're after more info.

they are buried as per islamic ritual s and thatcome s from NDTV as shown on the documentary and even the help at KABRISTAN was claiming so
but never seen anything such as first hand
hs any member seen any of their personal ritual s ???

Yeah...it was 11001

Any of you looking for an interesting festival to visit??

Here's an excerpt from a Wiki on Hirjas

Not far from Pondy methinks!!

what do you think NDTV paid then?

So it seems they regard themselves as Mukhannathun, born of one gender but with the characteristics and language of the other. A secret sect of these Mukhannathun were thought to have guarded the tomb at Mecca and Medina, ancient reports indicate close ties with the Hirjas in India, who's sect is thought to have arrived with the Mughals in the 12th century. Who employed Mukhannathun as servants and entertainers!
Though a vedic notion of a third gender has been around for a lot longer!

Not really transexuals or Eunuchs. But neither male nor female. They will always when asked refer to themsleves as Hijras or Kinnar an older more respecful name.

They mainly worship Shive or Bahuchara Mata which is an interesting contrast in itself


In Tamil Nadu they are known as aravanni, aravani, or aruvani.

Some male Worshipers of the Godess Yellamma are known as Jogappa. Dressed as females they provide a similar service at weddings and birth to their northern counterparts!

Kothis are also transexuals but more regarded as feminine males, involved the sex industry, they do not live in close knit communities like Hirjas

Very interesting stuff.

Here's a link to a photo that tickled me!! photo

I saw some in Lahore....

I think I read in Dalrymple's book that the Muslims considered them to be pure, untouched by sexual shame, and so, they were suitable bodyguards for the Caliphs, and later the Sultan's of the Ottoman's, and the Mughal's........

recenly saw a LP guide tv programme in Australia where they featured them showing the weddings and christening they attended really intersting then we last bumped into one on a Delhi railway station, got me for 10IR pulled a face then walked off.

I was woken up by a few in a sleeper car. They flicked on the lights and began to sing and slap people with rupee notes. They tended to leave me alone but would annoy the Indian men who were trying to sleep. One of them gave me a good hard pinch in my sleep. I think they left us westerners alone,for the most part, because we may not have understood the money-giving ritual. We did encounter some who were making some really obscene gestures at a man who was getting really upset. He went to get the armed guard who was at the entrance to try to do something, but he just laughed along with the rest of the compartment. I read somewhere that they show up at weddings and baby ceremonies to absorb the bad luck, and thus expect payment. I am not sure where I read this, however, and it may not be true.

It is true,They do turn up during weddings and other auspicious occassions and demand money .If the hosts dont comply they curse them .Superstitious people end up paying money.

Yes this is true

The Sultan's of the Ottoman's started the practice of castrating young boys. The boys who survived(chance of survival was reported to be about 40%) grew up to be called "Khoja" They were employed at the harem. This practice was followed by the muslim rulers of India including the Mughals.

"I think they left us westerners alone,for the most part, because we may not have understood the money-giving ritual."
I think that you are right, Casey. I have been on about half-a-dozen train trips and I have never been bothered by the hijra. My Indian wife says that is because she talks to them first, feigning some illness or other excuse dissuading them from asking us. However, I have never seen the hijra approach my wife; she always approaches them first, so I think that her actions were unnecessary.
I then began to believe that they approached only Hindus, but on my recent trip I saw them ask a Muslim.
I now agree that the hijra do not approach Westerners.

For those of you who have not yet been on an Indian train but may do so in the future, I want to inform you that you can tell the approach of a hijra by her/his(?) clapping. She/he(?) will clap once before approaching a compartment. It is this that I find particularly annoying, especially if it is done late at night.