#Chaturabhanga - Queer Characters from Mahabharata Picture project by @alekhyas_pixels @alekhya_writes Based on writings of @devduttmyth #Mohini According to Tamil versions of the Mahabharata, the god Krishna – an incarnation of Vishnu – also took the form of Mohini and married Aravan. This was in order to give Aravan the chance to experience love before his death, as he had volunteered to be sacrificed. Krishna remained in mourning in the Mohini form for some time after Aravan's death. This marriage and death of Aravan are commemorated annually in a rite known as Thali, during which Hijra (Indian "third gender") take on the role of Krishna-Mohini and "marry" Aravan in a mass-wedding, followed by an 18-day festival. The festival ends with a ritual burial of Aravan, while the Hijras mourn in Tamil style: by beating their chests in ritual dances, breaking their bangles and changing into white mourning clothes. I wanted to name this piece as #Aravani as that is the cult followed post the myth associated with this character. However ARAVANI is a word adapted by the Hijra community as an identity and hence me being a non-hijra person using that for a photo representation would make it sensless with disregards the entire community who identify with that name. I also thought to call it as #Amohini as this image is more about the pain and sorry. Mohini meaning the enchantress is here Depectied as non enchanter as she is not "mangal" As she is filled with sorry. I didn't wanted to use that too, cause that not only discriminated the idea of widowhood as unsacred, it also make the purpose more cliche. #krishna #radhakrishna #harekrishna #radheradhe #radha #radhekrishna #love #vrindavan #lordkrishna #iskcon #radhe #india #radharani #god #hindu #kanha #mahabharat #krishnalove #bhakti #shiva #hinduism #radhakrishn #mahadev #krishnaconsciousness #haribol #radheshyam (at India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTA77vkhv4V/?utm_medium=tumblr