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Koovagam is a village in the Ulundurpettai taluk in Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu.[1] It is famous for its annual festival of transgender and transvestite individuals, which takes fifteen days in the Tamil month of Chitrai (April/May).[2]

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Koovagam
village
Koovagam Location in Tamil Nadu, India Show map of Tamil Nadu Koovagam Koovagam (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 11°50′11″N 79°20′31″E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Kallakurichi
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	TN-

The festival takes place at the Koothandavar Temple dedicated to Iravan (Koothandavar). The participants marry the Lord Koothandavar, thus reenacting an ancient history of Lord Vishnu/Krishna who married him after taking a form of a woman called Mohini. The next day, they mourn the god Koothandavar's death through ritualistic dances and by breaking their bangles. An annual beauty pageant and several other competitions like singing contests are held.^{[citation needed]}

Basic rights of transgender and transvestite individuals and health care are discussed in seminars too. People from different places attend this festival.

Location From Viluppuram 25 km and from Ulundurpet 15 km.

See also

• Tamil sexual minorities

References

External links

• Media related to Koovagam at Wikimedia Commons

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