http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/24/nation/18381999&sec=nation
Devotees from Malaysia and Singapore fulfil vows to deity
for transsexuals
By WANI MUTHIAH
KLANG: The five-day celebrations dedicated to Goddess Bahuchara
Mataji, the Hindu presiding deity for transsexuals, ended yesterday
in a ceremony that saw some 400 participants from Malaysia and
Singapore at a temple in Pandamaran near here.
The temple, dedicated to the deity whose main temple is in
Shankhalpoor in Gujarat, India, is owned and managed by the local
Hindu transgender community.
The celebrations began last Thursday with the highlight on the
third day when devotees fulfilled vows by carrying pal kudam (milk
pots) and thee chatti (earthen pots with fire).
Dressed in green sarees, the official colour for Bahuchara Mataji,
the entourage, led by the communitys matriarch M. Asha Devi, 63,
carried the pal kudam and thee chatti to the temple.
Two devotees balancing milk pots as they enter the temple at
Pandamaran last Saturday.
This was followed by a chariot procession in the evening with
Pandamaran assemblyman Datuk Dr Teh Kim Poo as the events special
guest.
Asha Devi said preparations for the celebrations began several
months ago, as arrangements had to be made to accommodate the
devotees.
Devotees also prepare themselves by fasting for at least three
months before carrying the pal kudam and thee chatti, said Asha
Devi, who runs a food outlet in Kuala Lumpur.
According to her, a flag bearing the Goddess emblem was raised on
the first day followed by an ubayam (special prayers) on the second
day.
The fourth day was also observed with prayers for Mataji. On the
final day, which is today, we have special prayers for a male deity
known as Veera Vetai Karar Muniandy followed by anathanam (feeding
of the masses), she added.
Meanwhile, S. Komathi, 50, who cooked for the devotees, said this
years event was special as they were praying hard to obtain a
piece of land from the state government to build a proper
temple.
The temple is currently situated in the home of one of our
members grandmothers. Due to space constraints we cannot do any
renovation, said Komathi who owns a flower shop in Klang.
Komathi said the community badly needed a bigger temple to
accommodate the crowd.
In the past, it was only our community which prayed here but now
others are also coming to the temple.
For K. Janani, 27, who came all the way from Singapore to carry the
pal kudam, the event was both fun and colourful.
I like the festive atmosphere. I have been coming here for the
past two years to offer prayers as our community does not have a
dedicated temple in Singapore, Janani added.