Kolkata: ‘Ardhanariswar’ (half a middle male god of gods) Durgotsav now has a permanent place and trans city people opened it with many fanfare on Thursday, with the Australian consulate General Ainsworth as a guest.
Over the past three years, Puja has been carried out in the 9ftx9ft room, within the boundaries of apartments belonging to Ranjita Sinha, Secretary of the Transgender Support Group Gokhale Road Bandhan and the Transgender / Hijra Bengal Association.
Starting this year, it was held at Garima Greh – a permanent shelter house funded by the Ministry of Justice and Social Empowerment.
Since August this year, the two-story building in Mukundapur has served as home to trans people, many of which are expelled in a pandemic.
The center was tied with Gokhale Road Bandhan to run this space for 25 homeless people.
“It’s just right that we bring our home durga to a permanent shelter that has been carved for trans men and women.
Because, our special Lord – ‘Ardhanishwar’, formed by trans-people themselves,” Sinha said.
On Thursday night, celebrities and senior police officers gathered on the launch of the inclusive Puja Durga Puja to celebrate LGBTQI and others were marginalized in society.
Cutting the ribbon, Ainsworth said: “I’m always with you, support your goals.” Then talking to Toi, Sinha said: “We have appealed to the state government to give us a cm grant Mamata Banerjee has announced for the organizers shaken under the Covid crisis.
Considering that we are a small but unique budget, we hope the government will not disappoint We.
Even the ceremony will be carried out by a transgender Imam.
“Sinha said the best care is being taken to follow the Covid protocol and only vaccinated people will be permitted to participate.
“Last year, Covid went berserk and we just held a token event with almost four to five people because we did not want to destroy continuity.
This year, fortunately the court has allowed 15 people to gather at a time.” Starting on Thursday, they will also observe The Navratri festival, which coincides with Durga Puja.
Puja symbolizes a metaphorical gamut that questiones the practice of class structure that traditionally prohibits transgender and other minorities from taking part in social-religious events.
“Everyone is welcome – from gay, lesbian, bisexual to heterosexual and not just a gender variant.
At the time of the pandemic, the count should not exceed the limit,” Sinha said.