VILLUPURAM: The annual festival at Koothandavar temple culminated on Wednesday with a car festival and the devotees removing their thalis at Koovagam village.
Thousands of transgender and local villagers participated in the car procession ceremony and removed their thalis that were tied the previous day.
A giant effigy of Aravan decorated with flowers was taken in a possession round the village and then to the exit point of the village, where he was sacrificed.
The head of the effigy was cut off in a ceremony that is believed to be followed for over a hundred years.
Groups of transgender danced around burning camphor as they believed Aravan would fulfil their wishes. After the effigy was taken out of the village, one of the temple priest severed the head and set it ablaze symbolising Aravan being sacrificed.
Soon after, transgender and other villagers, who tied thalis assuming Aravan to be their husband, mourned his death and removed the thali, bangles and flowers, to simbolise them becoming widows.
They then wore white sarees personifying Mohini (Lord Krishna), who became a widow after Aravan was given as a sacrifice to win the Kurukshetra war.