New Delhi: Aravani, or the Koovagam Festival, an annual gathering of transgender community was held at the Koothandavar Temple in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district. It begins on the full moon of the Chithirai month of the Tamil calendar and fell on April 9 this year, with a Saagai Vaartha event. Transgender people from across the country and even countries like Singapore and Malaysia came to celebrate their existence. Among the many events held during this festival was Miss Koovagam transgender beauty pageant held on April 22. The event was organised by the South India Transgenders Federation along with the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Social Welfare.
While Riya, a trans woman from Erode district was crowned Miss Koovagam, Megha from Coimbatore came second. Evangeline John of Chennai was the second runner-up. P Mohanambal, president of the South India Transgenders Federation crowned the winners. The rehearsals for the Miss Transgender Beauty Pageant were held at Villupuram District Artist College. Miss Transgender 2024 and Miss Koovagam 2024 were the main events of this festival.
Talking about this event, Sudha, the founder of the National Transgender Welfare Organisation told News18, “Every year, transgenders participate in the Koothandavar Temple festival. It will be followed by the Miss Transgender and Miss Koovagam festival.”
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