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While generally ‘Sabitri Brata’ is observed by married women who pray and fast before the Goddess Parvati wishing long lives for their husbands, the second wave of Covid-19 notwithstanding, members of the transgender community in Bhubaneswar came together to join the bandwagon on the auspicious occasion.
Clad with bright and colourful sarees, some members of the community observed the holy festival in a subdued manner in the Capital City with strict adherence to Covid-19 norms.
“We have taken prior permission form Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation to observe the festival in strict adherence with Covid-19 guidelines,” said Meera Parida.
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“We all have conducted our Covid-19 tests before and got negative reports. This year we have decided not to offer puja at any big temple and are observing the festival in open space. We sanitised our hands, maintained social distancing and put on masks while performing the rituals,” she said.
With puja thalis in their hands the transgenders performed all the rituals of the festival and offered sindur, alata, flowers and fruits to the deity as part of the worship.
But the festival celebrated by the transgender community differs from the general in a specific way. Noted social worker Meghna said, “The custom is followed all over the country. Members of transgender community observe ‘Sabitri Brata’ and worship their Gurus. We consider our Gurus as our husbands and pray the Goddess for their good health and long life."
“Now a days, kinnaras are also getting married and living with their husbands. The married kinnaras are observing the brata and praying for their husbands also,” she said.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)
