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Kinnar Akhara invites San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community to Maha Kumbh 2025
Sending her blessings and prayers to them from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Acharya Mahamandeleshwar, (head priestess) of Kinnar Akhara, said,” I am speaking from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
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A group of ladies danced the Ghoomar (traditional folk) dance. / Ritu Marwah
San Francisco’s LGBTQ community is invited to the Kumbh by the high priestess of the Kinnar Akhara, the first transgender religious convent in the world.
Sending her blessings and prayers to them from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Acharya Mahamandeleshwar, (head priestess) of Kinnar Akhara, said,” I am speaking from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Whoever wants to join the Kinnar Akhara are welcome. My shishya Anjali Remi in San Francisco can be your contact.”
The mood at the Kinnar Akhara was festive. A troupe of nuns played traditional instruments and sang bhakti songs to the goddess. A group of Naga Sadhus and Kinnar sannyasins sat around a havan kundh (ceremonial fire pit) dug into the earth.
Women wearing colorful Rajasthani skirts, sweaters and shawls flocked to the Kinnar nuns to take their blessings. A group of ladies danced the Ghoomar (traditional folk) dance.
Touching the feet of the transgender nuns, devotees moved to wait patiently in a long line to seek blessing from Tripathi, the leader of Kinnar Akhara. Men and women were patted on the head with peacock feathers as they approached the dias where Tripathi was seated. She wore Shiva tattoos on both arms, three white lines were streaked across her forehead which had a glittery gold base coat. A big red bindi with an upward swoosh adored her forehead and a gold disc shone on her nose. Her bright orange sari spread out in front of her as she leaned back indolently. The devotees were awestruck as they quietly filed past. Tripathi has pulled off a great feat in establishing her religious order or Akhara by forging an understanding with the Juna Akhara which is the largest of the 13 or Akharas (camps at Kumbh). Hari Giri, the leader of Juna Akhara stepped in to support the kinnar community. They agreed to bathe at the Kumbh alongside them. Established in 2015 it is the newest religious order. “This is the biggest achievement,” she said to her San Francisco brethren. / Ritu MarwahSan Francisco’s LGBTQ community is invited to the Kumbh by the high priestess of the Kinnar Akhara, the first transgender religious convent in the world.
Sending her blessings and prayers to them from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Acharya Mahamandeleshwar, (head priestess) of Kinnar Akhara, said,” I am speaking from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Whoever wants to join the Kinnar Akhara are welcome. My shishya Anjali Remi in San Francisco can be your contact.”
The mood at the Kinnar Akhara was festive. A troupe of nuns played traditional instruments and sang bhakti songs to the goddess. A group of Naga Sadhus and Kinnar sannyasins sat around a havan kundh (ceremonial fire pit) dug into the earth.
Women wearing colorful Rajasthani skirts, sweaters and shawls flocked to the Kinnar nuns to take their blessings. A group of ladies danced the Ghoomar (traditional folk) dance.
Touching the feet of the transgender nuns, devotees moved to wait patiently in a long line to seek blessing from Tripathi, the leader of Kinnar Akhara. Men and women were patted on the head with peacock feathers as they approached the dias where Tripathi was seated.
She wore Shiva tattoos on both arms, three white lines were streaked across her forehead which had a glittery gold base coat. A big red bindi with an upward swoosh adored her forehead and a gold disc shone on her nose. Her bright orange sari spread out in front of her as she leaned back indolently. The devotees were awestruck as they quietly filed past.
Tripathi has pulled off a great feat in establishing her religious order or Akhara by forging an understanding with the Juna Akhara which is the largest of the 13 or Akharas (camps at Kumbh). Hari Giri, the leader of Juna Akhara stepped in to support the kinnar community. They agreed to bathe at the Kumbh alongside them. Established in 2015 it is the newest religious order.
“This is the biggest achievement,” she said to her San Francisco brethren.
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