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Gotipuas
The gotipuas are boys who dress themselves as females and dance. They begin their training at the age of seven and continue until they are eighteen. They were also called Akhada pilla (Akhadagymnasium, pilla- boy). The gotipuas, performed at religious festivals and fairs (Jatras like candan (summer, sandal festival) yatra, Jhulan (swing) yatra and Rath (chariot yatra), social gatherings and occasionally in the temple courtyards. The main reason for the rise of the gotipua tradition appears to be the influence Sakhi Bhava tradition, were the devotee considers themselves the consort of Lord Krsna. King Prataprudra (1497-1540) met Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in 1512-13 and was very receptive to the Sri Chaitanya's Gaudiya School of Vaisnavism. Ramananda Rai, the King's minister and Governor of Rajmundri, who also was a great poet, musician and dancer. He also trained the maharis in abhinayas from Geet Govinda of Sri Jaydev Goswami. He resinged his office to become the foremost devotee of Sri Chaitanya. He was attracted to the concept of Madhurya Rasa Upasana, were a devotee worships Lord Krishna in the form of the love of the Gopis (Milkmaids of Vrindavan).
