Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Hijra are usually found sitting around a small, important temple inside the com-
pound, built 700 years ago. Niru asked permission to photograph two Hijra, and requested
a blessing. For a mere 50 Rupees, this was the first, and probably the last time, that Travels
With Sheila will ever be blessed by a castrated Hijra.
Ceremonial castration into Hijra community takes place at this temple. I was told it in-
volves removal of a boy's penis, testicles and scrotum, withoutanesthetic , at or around pu-
berty. They may also be castrated at any time in their lives. By now, ex-Marine was holding
his manly parts, grimacing in pain not only at the thought of castration, but also castration
without an anesthetic ! Ouch, agony, and suffering...
Another important ritual takes place at Bahucharaji Temple. When a boy turns five-
years of age, his parents bring him here: shave his head, throw pieces of hair into the water
tank, dip palms in paint and then press red handprints on the wall. A live chicken is also
brought with to take part in this ceremony because the Goddess rides a chicken. The chick-
en is not killed but left to run around the temple complex after this ritual. Niru scoured the
temple grounds trying to find out if a ceremony was taking place this morning, and even
asked the Brahmin priests. No ceremonies and no loose chickens.
Leaving this very unusual temple behind, it was on the way Rani-ki-Vav Step Well.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search