写真 | 2019年 01月 22日 06:05 JST

From pariah to demi-god: transgender leader a star at Indian festival

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi (C), chief of the "Kinnar Akhada" congregation for transgender people and other members take a dip during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) at "Kumbh Mela" or the Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, previously known as Allahabad, India, January 15, 2019. Tripathi, a tattooed transgender leader and a former reality TV star, has become an unlikely icon at India's Kumbh Mela, a huge religious festival being held on the banks of the Ganges river in the city of Prayagraj. Up to 150 million people are expected to attend by the time the festival ends in March.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi (C), chief of the "Kinnar Akhada" congregation for transgender people and other membemore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 15日 Tuesday

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi (C), chief of the "Kinnar Akhada" congregation for transgender people and other members take a dip during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) at "Kumbh Mela" or the Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, previously known as Allahabad, India, January 15, 2019. Tripathi, a tattooed transgender leader and a former reality TV star, has become an unlikely icon at India's Kumbh Mela, a huge religious festival being held on the banks of the Ganges river in the city of Prayagraj. Up to 150 million people are expected to attend by the time the festival ends in March. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Members of the "Kinnar Akhada" congregation give blessings to devotees during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) at the Kumbh Mela Festival. On Tuesday, her religious movement, called the Kinnar Akhada, became the first transgender group to bathe at the confluence of the holy Ganges and the Yamuna rivers on the first day of the ancient festival, traditionally reserved for reclusive Hindu priests, almost all of whom are men.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Members of the "Kinnar Akhada" congregation give blessings to devotees during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bamore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 15日 Tuesday

Members of the "Kinnar Akhada" congregation give blessings to devotees during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) at the Kumbh Mela Festival. On Tuesday, her religious movement, called the Kinnar Akhada, became the first transgender group to bathe at the confluence of the holy Ganges and the Yamuna rivers on the first day of the ancient festival, traditionally reserved for reclusive Hindu priests, almost all of whom are men. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Laxmi Narayan Tripathi speaks to her followers during Kumbh Mela. "After centuries down the line, it was when the community finally got its due," Tripathi told Reuters, seated on a pedestal next to her Michael Kors bag, juggling calls on an iPhone.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi speaks to her followers during Kumbh Mela. "After centuries down the line, it was when more

Reuters / 2019年 1月 20日 Sunday

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi speaks to her followers during Kumbh Mela. "After centuries down the line, it was when the community finally got its due," Tripathi told Reuters, seated on a pedestal next to her Michael Kors bag, juggling calls on an iPhone. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi rides on a camel during a religious procession ahead of the Kumbh Mela. Many at the festival cheer Tripathi for reclaiming the lost place in Hinduism for India's "third gender," known as the hijras, worshipped as demi-gods for thousands of years, but ridiculed and sidelined during British colonial rule. A law passed in 1871 classed the hijras as "criminals."

REUTERS/Jitendra Prakash

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi rides on a camel during a religious procession ahead of the Kumbh Mela. Many at the fmore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 6日 Sunday

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi rides on a camel during a religious procession ahead of the Kumbh Mela. Many at the festival cheer Tripathi for reclaiming the lost place in Hinduism for India's "third gender," known as the hijras, worshipped as demi-gods for thousands of years, but ridiculed and sidelined during British colonial rule. A law passed in 1871 classed the hijras as "criminals." REUTERS/Jitendra Prakash

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Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi dances and sings with her followers during Kumbh Mela. Little changed after independence and hijras were pariahs, living in tribes, begging or soliciting for sustenance and harassed by police. It was only in 2014 that the Supreme Court officially recognized transgender people as a third gender.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi dances and sings with her followers during Kumbh Mela. Little changed after independemore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 15日 Tuesday

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi dances and sings with her followers during Kumbh Mela. Little changed after independence and hijras were pariahs, living in tribes, begging or soliciting for sustenance and harassed by police. It was only in 2014 that the Supreme Court officially recognized transgender people as a third gender. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Laxmi Narayan Tripathi shows her tattoos during Kumbh Mela. Tripathi is one of the best known transgender people in India. But her support for building a controversial Hindu temple on the site of a demolished mosque has angered some in the LGBT community, who allege she is courting support from India's powerful religious right to further her own influence.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi shows her tattoos during Kumbh Mela. Tripathi is one of the best known transgender peopmore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 20日 Sunday

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi shows her tattoos during Kumbh Mela. Tripathi is one of the best known transgender people in India. But her support for building a controversial Hindu temple on the site of a demolished mosque has angered some in the LGBT community, who allege she is courting support from India's powerful religious right to further her own influence. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Laxmi Narayan Tripathi takes a selfie with followers during Kumbh Mela. The place of hijras in Indian culture dates back to the Ramayana, a more-than 2,000 year-old Hindu epic poem venerated and performed across India. In the text, the god-king Ram is exiled from the holy city of Ayodhya, with the entire kingdom following him into the forest. He orders them to turn back, but returning after 14 years, finds the hijras waiting for him in the same spot. Impressed by their devotion, he grants them the power to invoke blessings and curses on people. For centuries, though their lives were far from easy, hijras held a special role in India's royal courts, tasked with guarding harems and rising to influential positions.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi takes a selfie with followers during Kumbh Mela. The place of hijras in Indian culture more

Reuters / 2019年 1月 20日 Sunday

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi takes a selfie with followers during Kumbh Mela. The place of hijras in Indian culture dates back to the Ramayana, a more-than 2,000 year-old Hindu epic poem venerated and performed across India. In the text, the god-king Ram is exiled from the holy city of Ayodhya, with the entire kingdom following him into the forest. He orders them to turn back, but returning after 14 years, finds the hijras waiting for him in the same spot. Impressed by their devotion, he grants them the power to invoke blessings and curses on people. For centuries, though their lives were far from easy, hijras held a special role in India's royal courts, tasked with guarding harems and rising to influential positions. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi speaks to her followers during Kumbh Mela. Today, despite their legal recognition, many still face prejudice in what is a conservative country, forced into sex work or seeking alms at weddings and births, a long-held practice among hijras. Hate crimes against them are common and HIV prevalence within the community is many times higher than the general population. "The ritual seeking of alms is now seen as begging," said Anindya Hajra, a transgender activist at the Pratyay Gender Trust. "It criminalizes and pushes an already vulnerable community to its very brink."

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi speaks to her followers during Kumbh Mela. Today, despite their legal recognition, mamore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 15日 Tuesday

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi speaks to her followers during Kumbh Mela. Today, despite their legal recognition, many still face prejudice in what is a conservative country, forced into sex work or seeking alms at weddings and births, a long-held practice among hijras. Hate crimes against them are common and HIV prevalence within the community is many times higher than the general population. "The ritual seeking of alms is now seen as begging," said Anindya Hajra, a transgender activist at the Pratyay Gender Trust. "It criminalizes and pushes an already vulnerable community to its very brink." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Laxmi Narayan Tripathi holds a baby of her follower during Kumbh Mela. Born in 1979 in Thane, a suburb of India's financial capital Mumbai, Tripathi says she had a difficult childhood scarred with abuse by a close relative. A sickly child who was bullied at school for being feminine, she grew in confidence after learning Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance. "I chose not to remember the prejudice," she said. "Rather I think (about) the good things that have happened to me, and be a flamboyant rainbow."

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi holds a baby of her follower during Kumbh Mela. Born in 1979 in Thane, a suburb of Indimore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 20日 Sunday

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi holds a baby of her follower during Kumbh Mela. Born in 1979 in Thane, a suburb of India's financial capital Mumbai, Tripathi says she had a difficult childhood scarred with abuse by a close relative. A sickly child who was bullied at school for being feminine, she grew in confidence after learning Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance. "I chose not to remember the prejudice," she said. "Rather I think (about) the good things that have happened to me, and be a flamboyant rainbow." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi takes a dip during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) at Kumbh Mela. Long recognized as one of the most influential figures in the LGBT community in India, she become famous across the country when she appeared on reality TV show "Bigg Boss" in 2011. She was a petitioner in the landmark court ruling that recognized transgender people.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi takes a dip during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) at Kumbh Mela. Long recognizedmore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 15日 Tuesday

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi takes a dip during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) at Kumbh Mela. Long recognized as one of the most influential figures in the LGBT community in India, she become famous across the country when she appeared on reality TV show "Bigg Boss" in 2011. She was a petitioner in the landmark court ruling that recognized transgender people. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Laxmi Narayan Tripathi attends evening prayers with followers during Kumbh Mela. In 2015, she founded her Akhara and began a campaign to have hijras represented at the at the first "Shahi Snan," or royal bath, of the Kumbh Mela. "It all started to reclaim the lost position in the dharma," Tripathi said, referring to the Hindu cosmic law underlying correct behavior and social order. "I was not very religious until 2015 -- life changed."

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi attends evening prayers with followers during Kumbh Mela. In 2015, she founded her Akhamore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 20日 Sunday

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi attends evening prayers with followers during Kumbh Mela. In 2015, she founded her Akhara and began a campaign to have hijras represented at the at the first "Shahi Snan," or royal bath, of the Kumbh Mela. "It all started to reclaim the lost position in the dharma," Tripathi said, referring to the Hindu cosmic law underlying correct behavior and social order. "I was not very religious until 2015 -- life changed." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi sings with her followers during Kumbh Mela. Devout Hindus believe bathing in the waters of the Ganges absolves people of sins and doing so at the time of the Kumbh Mela, or the "festival of the pot," brings salvation from the cycle of life and death.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi sings with her followers during Kumbh Mela. Devout Hindus believe bathing in the watemore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 15日 Tuesday

Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi sings with her followers during Kumbh Mela. Devout Hindus believe bathing in the waters of the Ganges absolves people of sins and doing so at the time of the Kumbh Mela, or the "festival of the pot," brings salvation from the cycle of life and death. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Laxmi Narayan Tripathi leaves after taking a dip during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) during Kumbh Mela. At the festival, 13 religious orders, or Akhara, set up camp on the banks of the Ganges. The umbrella body overseeing the Akharas initially refused to recognize the Kinnar Akhara as the 14th order. But Tripathi has forged close bonds with the largest of the other holy orders at the Kumbh Mela, the Juna Akhara. They agreed to bathe together.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi leaves after taking a dip during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) during Kumbh Mela.more

Reuters / 2019年 1月 20日 Sunday

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi leaves after taking a dip during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) during Kumbh Mela. At the festival, 13 religious orders, or Akhara, set up camp on the banks of the Ganges. The umbrella body overseeing the Akharas initially refused to recognize the Kinnar Akhara as the 14th order. But Tripathi has forged close bonds with the largest of the other holy orders at the Kumbh Mela, the Juna Akhara. They agreed to bathe together. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Laxmi Narayan Tripathi blesses her followers during Kumbh Mela. On the first royal bathing day on Tuesday, Tripathi rose at 4 a.m., dressed in a saffron sari and applied her makeup. She and her dozens of disciples then began the long procession to the river on a fleet of elaborately decorated trucks.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi blesses her followers during Kumbh Mela. On the first royal bathing day on Tuesday, Trimore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 20日 Sunday

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi blesses her followers during Kumbh Mela. On the first royal bathing day on Tuesday, Tripathi rose at 4 a.m., dressed in a saffron sari and applied her makeup. She and her dozens of disciples then began the long procession to the river on a fleet of elaborately decorated trucks. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Members of the "Kinnar Akhada" congregation take a dip during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) at Kumbh Mela. At the banks of the Ganges, they waited for their turn to bathe. Tripathi met with Hari Giri, the leader of Juna Akhara. Her Kinnar Akhara "was there, is there, and will always be there," Giri told Tripathi. Shortly after sunrise, she plunged into the waters, to the cheers of the crowds who gathered to watch.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Members of the "Kinnar Akhada" congregation take a dip during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) at Kumbh Melmore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 15日 Tuesday

Members of the "Kinnar Akhada" congregation take a dip during the first "Shahi Snan" (grand bath) at Kumbh Mela. At the banks of the Ganges, they waited for their turn to bathe. Tripathi met with Hari Giri, the leader of Juna Akhara. Her Kinnar Akhara "was there, is there, and will always be there," Giri told Tripathi. Shortly after sunrise, she plunged into the waters, to the cheers of the crowds who gathered to watch. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Laxmi Narayan Tripathi embraces a follower during Kumbh Mela. Tripathi has courted controversy with support for the building of a temple dedicated to Ram on the site of a former mosque in Ayodhya which was demolished by hardline Hindus in 1992, leading to riots in which thousands died. Many Hindus claim the mosque was built over an ancient temple that marked the birthplace of Ram, and the row is expected to be a major issue in a general election due to be held in the country by May. Many activists of India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have been agitating for the construction of a temple at the site, alarming the country's sizeable Muslim minority.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi embraces a follower during Kumbh Mela. Tripathi has courted controversy with support fomore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 20日 Sunday

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi embraces a follower during Kumbh Mela. Tripathi has courted controversy with support for the building of a temple dedicated to Ram on the site of a former mosque in Ayodhya which was demolished by hardline Hindus in 1992, leading to riots in which thousands died. Many Hindus claim the mosque was built over an ancient temple that marked the birthplace of Ram, and the row is expected to be a major issue in a general election due to be held in the country by May. Many activists of India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have been agitating for the construction of a temple at the site, alarming the country's sizeable Muslim minority. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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Laxmi Narayan Tripathi sings with her followers during Kumbh Mela. "There has been an attempt by the right to co-opt trans voices to suit a certain version of history," said Hajra, the activist. "Our apprehension is also that some are trying to further (their) own personal career moves." A letter signed in November by hundreds of transgender people and rights groups accused Tripathi of fueling "the right-wing politics of communal hatred." She is unrepentant. "Where my Lord Ram was born, there the temple has to come," she said. The Mughals "brought (the temple) down and then they enslaved us all," she said, referring to the Muslim emperors who ruled India in the 16th and 17th century.

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi sings with her followers during Kumbh Mela. "There has been an attempt by the right to more

Reuters / 2019年 1月 20日 Sunday

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi sings with her followers during Kumbh Mela. "There has been an attempt by the right to co-opt trans voices to suit a certain version of history," said Hajra, the activist. "Our apprehension is also that some are trying to further (their) own personal career moves." A letter signed in November by hundreds of transgender people and rights groups accused Tripathi of fueling "the right-wing politics of communal hatred." She is unrepentant. "Where my Lord Ram was born, there the temple has to come," she said. The Mughals "brought (the temple) down and then they enslaved us all," she said, referring to the Muslim emperors who ruled India in the 16th and 17th century. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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People arrive at "Kinnar Akhara" congregation at Kumbh Mela. Tripathi plans to spend the rest of the Kumbh festival at her Akhara, receiving visitors among her colorful band of followers, who have little in common with the holy men living monastic lives in the other camps. "We are not celibate," she said. "We are demi-gods, not saints. We have our own rules."

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

People arrive at "Kinnar Akhara" congregation at Kumbh Mela. Tripathi plans to spend the rest of the Kumbh fesmore

Reuters / 2019年 1月 20日 Sunday

People arrive at "Kinnar Akhara" congregation at Kumbh Mela. Tripathi plans to spend the rest of the Kumbh festival at her Akhara, receiving visitors among her colorful band of followers, who have little in common with the holy men living monastic lives in the other camps. "We are not celibate," she said. "We are demi-gods, not saints. We have our own rules." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

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