Transgender festival in India

Описание: (5 May 2007) SHOTLIST :
May 1, 2007
++night shots+++
1. Various of eunuch getting ready for the marriage ceremony; man putting sacred thread around her neck which is worn by married women in South India
2. Various of eunuchs waiting to enter the temple for marriage ceremony
3. Various of eunuchs shopping at festival fair
4. Various of eunuch buying bangles; man putting bangles on her wrist
5. SOUNDBITE (Tamil): Shilpa, Eunuch
"This is the only opportunity for us to get together and meet friends and well-wishers....this is not possible otherwise. We share with each other whatever has happened in the last one year. We are here to perform our religious duties like wearing the sacred thread and I met all my friends ....I am so happy."
May 2, 2007
6. Eunuchs singing and clapping
7. More of eunuchs singing and moving in a circle
8. Mid shot eunuch clapping
9. Various eunuchs dancing around fire
10. Various of deity being carried in procession
11. Various of devotees offering prayers with raised hands
12. Devotees pulling the iron chains tied to the deity's carriage as the procession moves forward
13. Eunuch person praying
14. Close up shot deity
15. SOUNDBITE (Tamil) : Mayil, Eunuch
"Koothandavar is our god. We pray to him for our and everybody's well being. We pray for the long life of our husband and tie the nuptial knot and remove it the next day. This is our religious belief."
16. Various of eunuchs wailing and mourning as they enact the ritual of widowhood a day after their marriage
17. Bangles on a eunuch's wrist being broken
18. Man cutting the sacred thread worn by a eunuch and removing flowers from her hair as the transgenders prepare for widowhood ceremony
19. Eunuch removing ornaments from her ear and nose
20. Various of eunuchs wailing, hugging each other as they mourn
21. Women watching
22. SOUNDBITE (English) : Brijendra Navneet, district official
"First thing is that they should have an identity as a human being - as a human being they must have an identity. And by giving this identity we are making them eligible to avail so many government schemes which are there for other people - so why to deprive them."
23. SOUNDBITE (Tamil) : Malvika, Eunuch
"We have been facing all kinds of harassment. We are stigmatised by the society and we face sexual torture, troubles emanating from rowdy elements and people teasing us. But I can't blame everybody...things have changed a bit, now."
24. SOUNDBITE (Tamil): Chitra, Eunuch
"We are left with no option, but to practice prostitution. Even if we keep shops, people disrespect us and refuse to pay money for the goods they buy. So, we are not able to run shops or do business."
25. Various of a eunuch being crowned at a beauty contest amid cheers; winner blowing kisses toward audience
26. Various of eunuchs greeting winner
May 1, 2007
++night shots+++
27. Mid shot deity 'Koothandavar' revered by the eunuchs
28. Various of eunuch praying with folded hands on full moon night
29. Wide shot crowd outside illuminated temple, the venue of the transgender festival
LEAD IN :
Each May Koovagam, a small village 250 kilometres (155 miles) from Chennai, plays host to the largest transgender gathering in India.
On a full moon night , the sleepy village is transformed into a magical setting with thousands of eunuchs and transvestites coming together to perform an ancient religious ritual.
STORYLINE :
In India, transgendered people are known by different names, the most popular one being ' hijra ' or the eunuch, meaning the impotent one.
A full moon night marks the beginning of this unique festival.

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