From pariah to demi-god: transgender leader a star at massive Indian festival

From pariah to demi-god: transgender leader a star at massive Indian festival

She created a religious movement called the Kinnar Akhada. It became the first transgender group to bathe at the confluence of the holy Ganges and the Yamuna rivers on the first day of an ancient festival, traditionally reserved for reclusive Hindu priests, almost all of whom are men.

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi is a transgender/Hijra rights activist, bollywood actress, Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and motivational speaker in Mumbai, India. She is also the Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of kinnar akhada. She was born in Malti Bai Hospital on 13th Dec 1978 in Thane.

This news article contains a twelve-shot slide show depicting the transgender spiritual leader with her people.

Alasdair Pal, Reuters | Emerging Markets. January 19, 2019.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-religion-kumbh-transgender-idUSKCN1PE04D
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laxmi_Narayan_Tripathi

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-religion-kumbh-transgender-idUSKCN1PE04D