Karimnagar: The Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Devasthanam of Vemulawada witnesses a very unique tradition each Rama Navami. Hundreds of transgenders from all over the country arrive here as “brides” of Lord Shiva. They get married to the lord after completion of the wedding of Lord Rama and Sita.
On Thursday, nearly one lakh devotees of Lord Shiva including hundreds of tran-genders arrived for the centuries-old ritual. They entered the temple to watch the wedding of Lord Rama and Sita and later, they showered talambralu on the gods and themselves to mark the completion of their marriage with Lord Shiva.
They will then culminate their pilgrimage by carrying bonams to Baddi Pochamma temple on Saturday. Ms Sony, a transgender from Mumbai, said that she has been participating in this unique wedding for the past 10 years.
“It is the only temple in the whole country where we can marry Lord Shiva — because he’s also known as Ardhanarishwar,” she said.
