Transgender high priest leads members of trans community to take holy dip
MAHAKUMBH NAGAR (PRAYAGRAJ): In a significant step towards fostering acceptance for the transsexual community in the realm of religion, Swami Kaushaliyanand Giri aka Tina Ma, Maha Mandaleshwar (Uttar Pradesh) of Kinnar Akhada and member of Uttar Pradesh Kinnar Welfare Board, led a large group of her disciples and members of the trans community in a holy dip in the Ganga near Sangam, on the occasion of Paush Purnima on Monday.
The members of transgender community took the dip and offered prayers between 5am and 6am at Ram Ghat of the Mahakumbh Nagar, drawing considerate attention from pilgrims and Kalpwasis who had gathered at the ghat from various parts of the country.
Kinnar Maha Mandaleshwar Swami Kaushalyanand Giri remarked that each of the main bathing festivals of Mahakumbh holds its own unique significance and spiritual virtue.
“I will be participating in the holy dip at Ganga and Sangam during all the main bathing festivals, as I have been doing for many years during Magh Mela, Kumbh, and Mahakumbh,” shared Kinnar Maha Mandaleshwar Swami Kaushalyanand Giri. “Today is particularly special as this bathing festival marks the beginning of Mahakumbh-2025. It is truly a divine experience to take a dip in the Ganga on such an auspicious occasion.”
She said that Mahakumbh, the grandest festival of Sanatan Dharma and faith, is a sacred opportunity for all followers of the Sanatan tradition to earn Akshay Punya by participating in holy baths during the main bathing festivals and undertaking Kalpavas on the banks of Sangam.