Question
The Kinnar Akhada is a monastic order of these people criticized for their Hindu nationalist stances. These people confer blessings with rice and a bitten coin. A rooster-riding, trident-wielding protector goddess of this group who cursed the thief Bapiya is named Bahuchara Mata. The Dakshin Char Kalibari Masjid is the first to exclusively serve these people. After some of these people literally interpreted a command and did not return to Ayodhya, Rama gave them the ability to grant blessings. Others believe this group’s abilities are derived from undergoing a (*) sacrificial ritual which puts them on par with Hindu sadhus or Sufi fakirs. These people curse those who refuse to pay for those blessings by “skirt-lifting.” These people are distinguished from kotis and other queer people by their belonging to a gharana under a guru’s leadership. For 10 points, name this community of third-gender South Asian people. ■END■
ANSWER: hijras [or paviyas; or aruvani; or aravani; or kwaja-sira; or khasua; or thirunangi; or thirunambi; or thirunar; prompt on transgender people or women; prompt on third-gender people; prompt on gender-nonconforming people; prompt on LGBTQ people; prompt on eunuchs but note the term is generally considered derogatory by the community] (Rama’s command was for the “men and women” to return; his hijra followers, being neither men nor women, did not return. Among some South Asians and some hijra communities, it is believed that only those hijras who have undergone castration— thereby sacrificing their “male organs” and becoming on par with religious ascetics—have the spiritual authority to grant boons and fertility.)
<HK, Religion (Other Subcontinent)>
= Average correct buzz position
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