Castration

Castration of human beings has been
almost completely absent in Indian history, with the notable exception of the
hijras. Hijras are male cross-dressers
who dress and behave as women and
have usually undergone self-castration
as a ritual renunciation of their sexuality.
Hijras are often homosexual prostitutes,
and they are an established part of the
decadent underside of most Indian
cities. Their most important ritual function is to sing and dance at the houses in
which a male child has been born, but
they may also be called to perform on
other auspicious occasions. Despite the
hijras’ associations with certain auspicious occasions, they are marginal to
society and have very low social status.
For a reliable study of the hijras, see
Serena Nanda, Neither Man Nor Woman,
\1999. See also auspiciousness.