Home / Lifestyle / Pune's Queer Community Finds Belonging in Ganapati Festivities
Pune's Queer Community Finds Belonging in Ganapati Festivities
19 Sep
Summary
- Ganapati celebrations offer safe spaces for Pune's LGBTQ+ community.
- Shikhandi dhol-tasha pathak unites trans people and the wider LGBTQ+ community.
- Community gatherings help foster chosen families and mutual acceptance.
Ganapati celebrations in Pune are transforming into inclusive events, fostering a sense of shared belonging for the LGBTQ+ community. These festivities provide a safe environment for members to express themselves freely and promote acceptance.
MIST LGBTQ Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to empowering the community, has been organizing eco-friendly Ganapati celebrations on its campus for several years. These intimate gatherings offer a comfortable alternative to larger events like Pride festivals.
The Shikhandi dhol-tasha pathak, formed in 2024, is India's first LGBTQ+ dhol-tasha group. Named after a transgender character from the Mahabharata, it aims to unite the community through music and occupy public spaces, making their presence visible and audible during Ganeshotsav performances.
These celebrations serve as spaces for healing and freedom, allowing LGBTQ+ individuals, many of whom have strained family relationships, to find their chosen family. Other organizations also host smaller, open-house celebrations, noting a growing confidence and societal acceptance since the decriminalization of Section 377 in 2018.
