Cross dressing for divine help

[Guest guest]

Cross dressing for divine helpRamesh BabuKollam (Kerala), March 29, 2005|22:56 IST

It’s the dead of the night. Dressed in their best clothes, a group of women make

their way to the temple. Some clumsily adjust their sarees, others laugh

hoarsely and a few walk along with folded hands. These women are on their way

to the Kottankulangara Devi temple (13 km north of Kollam) for the Chamaya

Vilakku festival. Only, they are men dressed up as women to propitiate the

Goddess, who, they believe, will grant all their wishes.

This year, a record 6,000 men dressed up as women. The agnostics among us would

dismiss them as cross-dressers. But they are serious.

"I love a girl. Her parents are against this. I am here to offer prayers. I am

sure the Goddess will bless me," an engineering student said adjusting his

false hair.

Devotees have to observe a 10-day fast before attending the festival (March 24

and 25). There is no dress code: anything from the traditional Malayalee kasavu

saree to skirts goes.Devotees buy new clothes, false hair, high-heeled shoes and

other accessories for the occasion. And make-up artists make a kill. "We charge

anything between Rs 100 and Rs 3,000," said Sadasivan and Veena, a couple among

the 500-odd make-up artistes at the temple.

"There is an unusual rush this year. There are devotees coming all the way from

Greece," K. Sunil, president of the temple, said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1298940,000900020003.htm?headline=Men~dress~as~women~for~divine~help

Make your home page