Men who transition themselves to women and dress up in what is called “feminine” attire to portray their womanhood are known as the “Hijra” people in India. “Kothi” are the men who take on the female role in sexual activities, to experience more penetration. Hijras mostly live in a house together and work under a “Guru (leader or teacher).” Whereas, Kothis live a “normal” life with their families. The Hijra community in India has been looked down upon for multiple decades. I have noticed rituals such as when a new baby is born in a household, the Hijra people are invited to that household for the baby to receive blessings from them. But the same baby is taught to stay away from the Hijra community when they grow up. I have always wanted to find the reason for this.
I studied various Indian mythological books, books on the sex working scene in East and South India, online articles and peer reviewed journals. Some of the things that I found out was that the Hijra people only worship “Bahuchara mata” and the only temple for worship is situated in the state of Gujarat in India, The female incarnation of “Goddess Mohini” of “Lord Vishnu’s Dashavatara,” which means ten incarnations, is scarcely mentioned in Indian Mythology books and about the belief that when “Lord Rama” was sent to exile for fourteen years, by “King Dasharath,” a group of “non-male, non-female” people prayed for his health and success and waited for this return.
In the future, I plan on taking this research further and get funding in order to go and research in person in areas with a high concentration of Hijra and Kothi sex workers. I also plan on writing a “Vagina Monologues” style book on the lives of the Hijra and Kothi people in India.
Author: Priyana Kalita
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Wilson, Department of Religion
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