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This is an archive article published on November 22, 2011
From across nation,they come to pray for the unborn
IT was meant to be a prayer meeting for the children,yet unborn,and in the honour of the eunuch gurus who passed away.
IT was meant to be a prayer meeting for the children,yet unborn,and in the honour of the eunuch gurus who passed away. But the 10-day Kinnar Sammelan,organised in a community hall in Nand Nagri,turned tragic on the first day of the event when 14 eunuchs died as the tent caught on fire.
Through this ceremony we try to pay respect to our gurus who have expired. We prepare food and offer it to their soul, said Basanti,a participant. The sammelan is an event close to the hearts of the community,with many saying it has been followed for ages. A few even traced its origin to the myth of Lord Rama.
For the ceremony,the eunuchs also get a clay pot from a potter and offer it to the gods. We also go to the dargah to offer a chaddar and offer bells in temples. After that we pray for everybody,sing songs and chant mantras, said Kanta.
The community often holds a mahapanchayat,which is attended by the gurus of all eunuch groups. It is here that they decide when and where the Sammelan would be held next,said a member of the community.
The preparations for the Sammelan started around eight months ago,said a member. The community collected money to hire cooks,book the hall and arrange for mattresses.
Our gurus have a strong network with the leaders of other districts and the planning for the ceremony is a joint effort. We put in so much effort and all was reduced to ashes, said Jyoti.
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