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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Sarah Gilbert

India's third gender - in pictures

Third Gender: Aravanis in Koovagam
Aravani gather in the village of Koovagam, Tamil Nadu for a Hindu festival celebrating the marriage of Aravan to Mohini, Lord Krishna's female form. Photograph: Tom Pietrasik
Third Gender: before and after
A hijra shows photographs that depict her before and after making the transition from male to female. Photograph: Tom Pietrasik
Third Gender: portrait of hir
A hijra in traditional dress. Photograph: Tom Pietrasik
Third Gender: sex worker
Kavia who earns her living as a sex worker, on the streets of Chennai. Photograph: Tom Pietrasik
Third Gender: Transexual, transgenders and Aravani gay men in Tamil Nadu, India
The audience at a hijra beauty pageant in Vilappuram in Tamil Nadu. Photograph: Tom Pietrasik
Third Gender: make-up
A woman prepares herself for an evening with friends in the town of Vilappuram in Tamil Nadu during an annual week-long transgender gathering. Photograph: Tom Pietrasik
Third Gender: dancer
Laksha is a kuchipudi dancer, here preparing for a performance in Chennai. Photograph: Tom Pietrasik
Third Gender: elder
The elder head of an aravani household in her bedroom. Photograph: Tom Pietrasik
Third Gender: marriage to krishna
An aravani is "married" to Lord Krishna in a traditional temple ceremony in Koovagam, Tamil Nadu. Photograph: Tom Pietrasik
Third Gender: transexual in car
A transsexual woman in western dress in Chennai. Photograph: Tom Pietrasik
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