 Malvanis hijras want to leave nothing to chance when it comes to the Ash-Abhi marriage.
Ash and Abhishek had to overcome many hurdles like Salman Khan, unlucky kundalis and Aishwaryas Manglik status to reach this far.
It is important to wish them luck by blessing them in our customary style,
says Asha Guru, who played the dholak at the ceremony organised by the local hijra (transgender) community to bless the Bollywood couple yesterday.
 Drum maro drum: Chhoti Guru (pink sari), Asha Guru (playing the dholak), Sindhu (in blue), Pooja (black sari) and Sunita (floral salwar kameez) pray for Abhishek and Aishwaryas peaceful married life Though their hope of being invited to the wedding is unlikely to be fulfilled, the group refuses to be left out of the celebrations.
We danced, sang and drove all the bad luck away, says Chhoti Guru.
Dont cross-dress
As long as he does not cross-dress like Amitabh Bachchan did in the song Mere angane mein, and does not shave off his sexy stubble, he will remain our gay icon, said a hijra. Abhi is the hottest: Gays
 In a poll conducted by Sakhi Charchowghi Trust exclusively for MiD DAY in October 2006, 50 per cent of the 500 gay men, and 75 per cent of the 100 members of the transgender community interviewed in Mumbai, picked Abhishek Bachchan as the No 1 gay icon.
In spite of his upcoming marriage, a fresh poll by the same organisation reveals that Abhi retains his position.
Of the 100 transgenders and 100 gay men interviewed, 80 per cent said his marriage wont affect his popularity, says S Gauri, gay activist and chairperson of Sakhi Charchowghi Trust.
Within the gay population (homosexuals and bisexuals), too, Abhishek (who is loved for his performance in the song Kahbie neem neem, kabhie shehed shehed in Yuva) tops the charts.
In spite of being straight, Abhishek did not panic or snub us when he learnt through MiD DAY that we have voted him the No 1 gay icon. His kind reaction and respect towards our community has endeared him even more to us, said some of the gay men interviewed.
Note: This study was undertaken by the Sakhi Charchowghi Trust at various gay cruising places and popular meeting places.
The homosexuals and transgenders in the age group of 18 to 35 years were verbally interviewed.
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