During the annual Chamayamvilakku festival at Kottankulangara Sree Devi Temple in Kerala, a unique and sacred ritual takes place that is not seen anywhere else in the world. Men participate in the ceremony by plucking their eyebrows, applying vibrant makeup, and dressing up in beautiful saris. To ensure they look as authentic as possible, they even shave off their mustaches. For 19 days in March, the festival is celebrated with great fervor, culminating in the final two days where men adorn themselves with glittering jewelry and intricate makeup, dressed in stunning saris to participate in the “Kottankulangara Chamayavilakku” ceremony. The aim of this act of devotion is to show gratitude to the Goddess for answering their prayers. Some of these men are so captivating in their feminine appearance that it can be hard to tell them apart from women.
