Hijra

Name for a class of male transvestites,
most of whom have undergone selfcastration as a ritual renunciation of
their sexuality. Hijras often serve as
homosexual prostitutes, and they are an
established feature of the decadent
underside in most Indian cities. Their
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Hero-Stones
most important social function is to
sing and dance at houses in which a
male child has been born, although they
may also be called to perform on other
auspicious occasions.
Their ritual role in connection with
births shows a strong association with
fertility, and at any function their presence is believed to confer health and
prosperity on the sponsoring family, for
which the hijras will demand appropriate compensation. At the same time, the
life of the hijras seems fraught with contrary notions: Although they are ritually
associated with fertility, they are themselves sterile, and their sexuality is nonprocreative. Though they are associated
with auspiciousness and prosperity,
they are a socially marginal group with
very low social status. For the only reliable study to date, see Serena Nanda,
Neither Man Nor Woman, 1999.