Transgender Deities And Festivals In India – A Study

Abstract

This article deals with cult, deities, festival and cultural attributes of Transgender in India. The most neglected culture of India, indeed the transgender people have own deities, festival and tradition in India. Once they have the great recognition in the ancient period, through the religious aspect. The Sualtanate, Mughals, Vijayanagara and Marathas have given the great benefit to the people to live their life independently, also enjoyed their religious space. However, the British has to eliminate the transgender people in the society. However, their tradition and culture does not vanish on until date. After NALSA judgment, they lived like a human as same as other gender getting privilege in India. Throughout India, transgender celebrated in Hindu, Islamic and other culture. Transgender religious space and cultural attributes completed neglected by the modern people. However, some of the festivals and minor deities also celebrated by the people general people through the years. Transgender having the religious identity with religion aspect like veneration of Ardhnareeshwara. In addition they have the own deities like Angalamman, Arvan, Bahucharya Mata, Yellamma and Drupadiyamman. In addition, they conducted the festivals, also participated in the festivals, which conducted by the general people.