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'''Kinnar Akhara''' is an ''[[akhara]]'' (Hindu [[religious order]]) established in 2018 by the [[Hijra (South Asia)|hijra]] community. It is under the Juna Akhada (Shri Panchdashnaam Juna Akhada).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kinnar Akhara, Group Of Transgender Saints, To Build Ashram In Prayagraj|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kinnar-akhara-group-of-transgender-saints-to-build-ashram-in-prayagraj-1981107|access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref> The organization showcased itself at the 2019 [[Kumbh Mela]]. The organization promotes discussion of [[Hinduism and LGBT topics]].

== Organization ==
[[Laxmi Narayan Tripathi]] is a spokesperson for the organization.<ref>{{cite web |title=From 'pariah' to 'demigod,' transgender leader a star at massive Indian festival |url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-01-21/pariah-demigod-transgender-leader-star-massive-indian-festival |website=[[Public Radio International]] |language=en |date=21 January 2019}}</ref>

One of the organization's leaders, Pavitra Nimbhorakar, said that the establishment of the organization brought more respect to members of their order.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/05/transgender-spiritual-order-acceptance-kumbh-mela/|title=Transgender spiritual order finally finds acceptance at Hindu pilgrimage|last1=Salian|first1=Priti|date=30 May 2019|website=[[National Geographic]]}}</ref>

[[Bahuchara Mata]] is a spiritual patron of the community.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/freedom-in-fluid-lines-this-kumbh-had-its-first-ever-transgender-art-fair/article26341647.ece|title=Freedom in fluid lines: this year's Kumbh Mela had its first ever transgender art fair|last1=Sen|first1=Priyadarshini|date=22 February 2019|website=The Hindu|language=en-IN}}</ref>

The organization claims origins in Hindu tradition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-religion-kumbh-transgender/from-pariah-to-demi-god-transgender-leader-a-star-at-massive-indian-festival-idUSKCN1PE04D|title=From pariah to demi-god: transgender leader a star at massive Indian festival|last1=Pal|first1=Alasdair|date=21 January 2019|website=Reuters|language=en}}</ref> Many of the members of the organization are artists.<ref name="Times Feb 2019">{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/kinnar-akhara-a-hub-of-artists-from-across-the-world-in-kumbh-mela/articleshow/68156002.cms|title=Kinnar akhara- a hub of artists from across the world in Kumbh mela|last1=Mani|first1=Rajiv|date=25 February 2019|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

== News ==
In September 2018 the [[Supreme Court of India]] made a ruling which was favorable to the LGBT+ community regarding [[Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code]].<ref name="Sept 2018 Hindustan Times''>{{cite web |last1=Srivastava |first1=Rajesh |title=First time in Kumbh Mela, Kinnar Akhada to be a hub of post-Sec 377 awareness |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/first-time-in-kumbh-mela-kinnar-akhada-to-be-a-hub-of-post-sec-377-awareness/story-j1fxa2f5T5F4QPnTglkvRJ.html |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en |date=14 September 2018}}</ref> In the context of that ruling, Tripathi made an announcement in that month that the organization would participate in the 2019 Kumbh Mela.<ref name="Sept 2018 Hindustan Times''/>

The 2016 Simhast Mela of Ujjain was the first mela where the transgender community participated as an organization.<ref>{{cite web |title=India's Kumbh Mela festival features 1st ever transgender congregation |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/transgender-people-participate-in-kumbh-mela-1.5028423 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=23 February 2019}}</ref> At Kumbh Mela in 2019 the organization presented and performed various arts, including plays, music, dancing, and painting.<ref name="Times Feb 2019" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://kinnarakhara.com/ Official website]

[[Category:Hijra (South Asia)]]
[[Category:Hindu monasticism]]
[[Category:2018 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Transgender topics and religion]]

Kinnar Akhara - Revision history

UpdateBot at 07:07, 4 December 2021