Hijras decry discrimination

Mahabubabad (Warangal): Hijras here on Sunday celebrated Bonalu festival and offered prayers to Goddess Maisamma.

Trying to be part of the mainstream, Hijras wanted to follow the traditions and customs of the land, offer regular prayers to Hindu deities.

Offering the Bonalu was an attempt to win over the Goddess and send the message across people that they were also humans following religious practices and offering periodic prayers, said Hijras, Aishwarya and Roja.
Speaking to The Hans India, they stated that their needs were not taken care by the governments or society. They lamented that some influential people have been attempting to alienate them from the mainstream of the society.

Talking of the Telangana movement, they said that they had participated in the agitations for the separate statehood.

Apart from this, their active participation in Bathukamma festival and now in Bonalu speaks of their lineage of following the Hindu traditions.