No eunuchs this time

SAMBALPUR: Sital Sasthi festival would be different this time. There would be no gyrating eunuchs, a main draw of the event.Even as Sambalpur gears up to celebrate the fete, the organising committees have decided to ban eunuchs.Eunuchs, who are invited every year, usually give the festival a distinct identity but they have been of late seen as a culture threat.These eunuchs come to pay their obeisance to Lord Shiva, also known as Ardhanareswar, and were respected. Suffering from an identity crisis, physical deformities and shunned by families they travel far and wide and make sure to reach here during Sital Sasthi. Not only were they looked up with respect but also allowed to be a part of the festival.Though the organisers took care of their fooding and lodging besides paying them money, the eunuchs indulged in illegal activities which drew criticism from different quarters