News Excerpt:

Riya, a transwoman from Erode, was crowned Miss Koovagam at the annual Koothandavar festival in Villupuram.

About the festival: 

• The Koovagams Koothandavar Thiruvizha is dedicated to the transgender community.
• Annually during the Tamil month of Chithirai April-May, thousands of transgender people from all over the country assemble in Koovagam, a tiny town in the district of Kallakurichi Tamil Nadu to celebrate a 18-day festival known as Koothandavar Thiruvizha.
• The event attracts their kind from abroad, including Singapore and Malaysia, and from across the country, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
• It is organised by the South India Transgenders Federation, along with the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Social Welfare. 
• Kovagams renowned beauty pageant is also held and the charming transgender woman is crowned with the title of Ms. Koovagam. 
• The contest tested the general knowledge and social awareness of the participants. 
• The contestant’s contribution to the future of the community was also one of the requirements of the event. 

History and Significance:

• The Mahabharata contains an intriguing story about the main deity Lord Koothandavar who is linked with the Pandava's triumph in the 18-day battle.
• According to the Mahabharata, Koothandavar is Aravan the son of Pandava prince Arjuna who decided to become a human sacrifice so that the Pandavas might defeat the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra conflict. 
• Koothandavar desired to experience marital life at least once before being sacrificed. Women on the other hand despised widowhood and no one was willing to marry a prince who would die the next day. 
• Lord Krishna granted Aravan’s desire by adopting the appearance of a woman Mohini.
• The next day Aravan sacrificed his life and Mohini mourned like a widow, Koovagam Thiruvizha.
• Every year transgender people who consider themselves the avatars of Mohini gather at the Koothandavar temple to celebrate this religious festival. 
• During the 18-day festival transgenders dress up like brides to marry Lord Koothandavar with a nuptial thread known as Thaali recreating the ancient episode of Aravan and Mohini.
• The final day of the festival is known as the day of sacrifice. 
• On this day Lord Koothandavar is carried in procession around the temple whilst transgender people cut their nuptial threads, break glass bangles and wear white sarees to grieve the loss of their spouse Aravan and portray widowhood.