main bhe anna tu bhe anna

SHRINE VISIT

A devotee who is believed to be possessed by evil spirits goes into a state of trance as others watch at the shrine of Sufi Saint Shahdaana Wali in Bareilly, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Devotees from all religions visit this 700-year-old shrine to seek the betterment of their family, and to ward off evil spirits by participating in diverse local invocation ceremonies.

Fireworks explode over the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium during the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in New Delhi October 14, 2010. The closing ceremony brought down the curtain on 12 days of sporting action at the $6 billion games for 71 mostly former British colonies.

Opening Ceremony Of CWG 2010

Fireworks illuminate the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi October 3, 2010.

The Hijras (Eunuchs)

Eunuchs, transsexuals, or transgender men are known as hijras in South Asia. They adopt feminine gender identity, women's clothing and other feminine gender roles. Etymologically, the word hijra is an Urdu word, seemingly derived from the Arabic root hijr or emigration in the sense of "leaving one's family, tribe or country," and it has been borrowed into Hindi.

Many hijra live in all-male communities, and have sustained themselves over generations by "adopting" young boys who are rejected by, or flee their family. Many work as male sex workers for survival. According to estimates by health organizations, only 10% of hijras are actually castrated.