Special blessing kiss

There is a social group in India which is really surprising. They are the transsexuals, transvestites and castrated people who are called “hijras”. All of them wear feminine clothes, this means saris, and usually they put on a lot of make-up in their faces. You can find them in couples or in small groups asking for money in the trains or next the traffic lights in the big cities. They don’t ask for charity like other people in India do, but they do it singing, dancing and demanding payment of 10, 20 or 50 rupees with nerve. In spite of considering them a marginal group, many people usually pay them whatever they ask for because most of the people are afraid of their curses and they want their blessings.

In the Pushkar Fair I met a group of some transsexuals and transvestites. They were passing in every place, singing, dancing and asking for money. Sometimes one of them sat down on someone’s lap. Then, the rest of the people started laughing except the shamed main character who felt absolutely embarrassed. Around them was a very big group of curious Indian people, looking at them with curiosity and fear.

I wanted to approach them just to take some pictures but I wasn’t sure about their reaction and if they liked someone taking pictures of them. It was surprising for me but they really appreciated someone approaching them with respect and asking to take photos. We laughed together taking pictures of ourselves and even one of them blessed me with a special blessing kiss.