most important social function is to
sing and danceat houses in which a
male child has been born, although they
may also be called to perform on other
auspicious occasions.
Their ritual role in connection with
births shows a strong association with
fertility, and at any function their pres-
ence is believed to confer health and
prosperity on the sponsoring family, for
which the hijras will demand appropri-
ate compensation. At the same time, the
life of the hijras seems fraught with con-
trary notions: Although they are ritually
associated with fertility, they are them-
selves sterile, and their sexuality is non-
procreative. Though they are associated
with auspiciousness and prosperity,
they are a socially marginal group with
very low social status. For the only reli-
able study to date, see Serena Nanda,
Neither Man Nor Woman, 1999.
Himachal Pradesh
(“Himalayan State”) Modern Indian state
located in the Himalayan region between
the state Jammuand Kashmirand the
kingdom of Nepal. Himachal Pradesh was
created in 1966 when the former state of
Punjab was divided into Punjab,
Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. As its
name implies, Himachal Pradesh is a
mountain state, with its lower regions in
the Shiwalik Hillsand its upper regions in
the high Himalayas. Most of the state’s
people live in the long, fertile river valleys
between the mountain ranges, and in the
hot seasonits hill stations provide wel-
come relief from the scorching heat.
Himachal is the home for seven of
the nine Shiwalik goddesses. These
seven goddesses are all the presiding
deitiesof a particular site, and some of
them have become quite important in
northern Indian religious life. Himachal
Pradesh is also home to a spectacular
Dussehrafestival in the town of Kulu,
at which all the gods in the Kulu Valley
are brought to Kulu to honor the god
Ramaon his victory over the demon-
king Ravana. For general information,
an accessible reference is Christine
Nivin et al., India. 8th ed., Lonely
Planet, 1998.Himalaya
A minor deitywho is the personified
form of the Himalaya Mountains.
Although the Himalaya Mountains are
one of the defining features of the Indian
subcontinent, the deity Himalaya has a
very insignificant place in Indian
mythology. His most important role is as
the father of the goddess Parvati, who
when she reaches maturity is married to
the great god Shiva. Himalaya is
described as exceedingly wealthy,
because of the mineral riches that the
mountains contain. See also Himalayas.Himalayas
(“abode of the snow”) Mountain range
that arcs across the northern border of
India, although the only Indian states with
significant Himalayan regions are Jammu
and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh, and, further east, Sikkhim.HimalayasPanorama of the Himalayas in Nepal. Hindus consider the Himalaya mountains
sacred since they are believed to be home to the gods.