As the country gears up to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, preparations for the Dahi Handi festival are in full swing. Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad are taking a progressive step this year by including transgender individuals in the celebrations.
In these cities, four teams of 100 members each have been formed for the Dahi Handi ceremony, with each team including 25 transgender members. The event is scheduled to take place on September 7 at the Gogte Prashala ground in Narayan Peth, Pune.
The initiative to include transgender individuals in the Govinda squads has been organized by Deepak Mankar, trustee of ‘Deepstambh,’ and the city president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), along with social workers Sharvari Gawande and Shiv Pratap Sanstha.
Mankar emphasized that every member of society, including transgender individuals, deserves to live with dignity and respect. He praised the active participation of transgender individuals in various fields and stressed the need for society to embrace them as part of the family. This inclusive Govinda team is a historic first, and it has garnered a positive response from approximately 100 transgender members who are eager to participate in breaking the Dahi Handi on September 7. The initiative aims to send a powerful message to society.
Kadambari, a transgender individual, expressed the positive change in society’s perception of transgender people in recent months. She expressed gratitude for the respectful treatment transgender members have received, including appointments as security guards by Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporations. This inclusion in mainstream activities has encouraged transgender individuals to participate in events like the Govinda teams.
Social activist Sharwari Gawande emphasized the importance of initiatives like forming Govinda teams with transgender members to mainstream them in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad cities. She mentioned that this endeavor has received a positive response, and special training has been provided to all participants. The Dahi Handi event is also expected to gain recognition in the India Book of Records. This initiative reflects the growing acceptance and integration of transgender individuals into society’s diverse fabric.
