Date:11/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/11/stories/2006051109300300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Married man ties knot with eunuch

Staff Reporter

Relatives of both `bride' and groom gather in large numbers

ANANTAPUR: In a bizarre incident a married man tied the nuptial knot with a eunuch at Karutlapalli village in Kuderu mandal of the district on Wednesday. The man's wife was also present on the occasion.

According to the information Vadde Venkatramudu was married to Pushapalatha of a village near Rayadurg long ago. Pushpalatha's cousin, her paternal uncle's eunuch heir, Preeti alias Bheemakka was initially brought up as a boy but as he grew up he acted more like a girl.

Venkatramudu married Preeti in the presence of his wife in Maremma temple. Relatives of both bride and groom and villagers gathered in large numbers.

Speaking to newspersons after the `marriage' Preeti said she had fallen in love with Venkatramudu when she visited the village last year. She had worked as a bar dancer in Bangalore for one year and had also undergone surgery to become a woman completely last year at Kadapa.

The wedding created a sensation in Karutlapalli and surrounding villages as the news spread. It is being believed that Venkatramudu had `married' Preeti as she had good bank balance and four acres of land in her name.