A religious celebration that memorializes a Hindu story includes lots of sex between men of the “third gender,” but leads to a not-so-scenic side effect: lots of litter in the form of used condoms.

Koovagam, a village in the India state Tamil Nadu, hosts the country’s largest religious festival observing a ritual re-enactment of Lord Krishna’s passionate night with Aravan, whom tradition says was a native of the area, according to an Apr. 23 story that appeared in the Hindustan Times.

Krishna is a major deity of the Hindu faith, which is said to be the oldest living religion. In the legend celebrated by the festival, Krishna is said to have transformed into a beautiful young woman named Mohini and then married Aravan, so that the young man–about to become a casualty of war–would have the pleasure of the martial bed in his lifetime.

The festival acts as a way for transgendered people to become the focus of rite and respect, while still dressing as the gender of their choice. The week-long celebration includes feasting, athletic competitions, pageants… and sex. Lots of it, for one night, a night that commemorates Krishna’s brief earthbound manifestation as Aravan’s wife.

The sexual part of the festival is seen as the consummation of a rite in which transgendered people, in the role of Aravan, become married to Krishna. The marital couplings then take place in the open, under the light of a full moon. The rite is also enjoyed by gays, bisexuals, and those who may be “bi-curious.”

But the next day, the field used in the celebration is littered with condoms given out by non-governmental organizations seeking to hinder the spread of HIV. Local parents are none too thrilled with this particular aspect of the festival.

Said a local resident named Ramesh, “Often, our children pick [condoms] up and bring them home,” the Hindustan Times article reported.

Continued Ramesh, “We welcome the festival because it’s been happening for as far as we can remember, but the increase in condom use in recent years has started creating this problem for us.”

One group by itself, the Tamil Nadu Network of Positive People, provided 3,000 condoms to festival participants. Rama Pandian, the founder of the group, was quoted in the Hindustan Times story as saying, “[Festivalgoers] are usually in a hurry to have frequent sex during this time, so the disposal of condoms may not adhere to the best practices.”

A local official, Brajendra Navnit, was quoted as saying, “We’ve noted the problem.” Vowed Navnit, “This year we’ll deploy more support stuff for sanitation at the village the next morning.”

The Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative also sought to address the problem with a directive to participants in the rite: “No sex around the temple.”

Source: EdgeBoston