User:Bluerasberry/Sandbox-Hijra culture

Hijra culture refers to the traditional practices and historical narratives of hijras. Hijra culture varies widely by geography and the identity of the participants. Elements often identified as being common to the culture of hijras include the following:


 * Membership in a worldwide community of persons with alternative sexuality or gender, and in particular the community of hijras.
 * An appreciation for traditional hijra art, including music, dancing, singing, and public performance.
 * Respect for certain gods associated with blessing hijras
 * A monastic community lifestyle partially separated from the general public and headed by a guru acting as leader
 * Performance of religious rituals for the general public, particularly at celebratory rites such as weddings or newborn child blessings

While hijras tend to associate with their society's LGBT culture, local non-hijra LGBT persons do not particularly associate with hijra culture far beyond the association of the general population except as being fellow members of sexual minorities.

Hijra profession
Complementary to the hijra lifestyle is a hijra profession. The general community in which hijras live hire hijras as performers in social functions, such as weddings. The persons arranging the wedding will hire the hijras to bless the union.

Wedding ritual
Hijras attend weddings as uninvited guests who are wanted but verbalized as not being welcome. Traditionally they will arrive at a wedding in a group and begin playing instruments, singing, and encouraging other guests to dance with them. They do bawdy performance and become progressively more obnoxious and disruptive. Nominally the wedding planners will offer to pay the hijras to leave, but in actuality the planners are paying for the hijra blessing. Before leaving, the hijras will bless the couple getting married. This blessing is a desired ritual that is appreciated, expected, and considered to have a financial worth.

Childbirth ritual
Hijras visit families who have recently had a child to examine and bless the child. Traditionally, if a woman gives birth to an intersex child, she will willingly give the child to the hijras who visit. The mother will be very sad, but she gives the child to them with a belief that intersex children are best cared for by other intersex persons.

In in the majority of cases, however, the hijras simply bless the child. The family pay the hijras for this blessing.

Hijra religion
While non-Hindus may be hijra, hijra culture draws from Hindu religious tradition. Most hijras are aware of specific Hindu gods who protect and bless the hijra's life and endeavors.

Hijra community life
Hijras traditional live in a communal setting with other hijras under the leadership of a guru.

Hijra legal rights
In contemporary times Hijras have organized to petition for legal recognition.

Hijra history
Hijra culture has a history that begins before the Mughal Empire.