The Koovagam Festival 2012 is set to gather this year thousands of hijras, eunuchs and cross-dressers from all over India in the Southern Indian village of Koovagam, Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu.

The Hindu people named Hijras the male-to-female transgendered people. The two day festival at Koothandavar Temple is held in honor of the Hindu deity Aravan (also known as Iravan), who is believed to be the patron god of transgender communities.

According to a Hindu legend, Aravan, the son of the Pandava Arjun, sacrificed himself to ensure the victory of the Pandava brothers against the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war (subject of the Indian epic Mahabharata). Before he sacrificed himself, Aravan wished to marry a woman and spend the night with her. In order to fulfill Aravan's request, Lord Krishna transformed himself into the form of an attractive woman, Mohini. After Aravan sacrificed himself the next day, Mohini grieved like a widow, breaking her bangles and beating her breasts.

The transgender devotees come each year from all over the country but neighbors countries too, to reenact the story of Aravan. In a symbolic ritual, the participants take on the role of Mohini and are married to Aravan by the temple priest. The next day they mourn Aravan's death by participating in ritualistic dances and breaking their bangles.

In addition to the religious ceremony, the participants compete in beauty pageants and singing contests. Basic rights of transgender and transvestite individuals and health care are discussed in seminars too.