West Bengal: Transgender activist Ranjita Sinha urges CM Mamata Banerjee to support 'Ardhnarishwar Durga Puja' at ATHB

By Ujjwal Roy
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 4 : Ranjita Sinha, a transgender activist, requested West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to support the annual 'Ardhnarishwar Durga Puja' celebration at their NGO, Association of Transgender (ATHB).
Ardhnarishwar Durga Puja celebration is a cornerstone event in their community's calendar and this celebration not only holds cultural significance but also serves as a powerful platform for advocacy and visibility.

Speaking to ANI, Ranjita Sinha, transgender activist and member of ATHB, said, "For the past eight years, our flagship initiative has been the Ardhnarishwar Durga Puja, a landmark event in the transgender community. This celebration, one of the first major Durga Puja festivities organized entirely by transgender individuals, has become a heritage for us. It serves as a vital platform where our community can unite in celebration, advocate for our needs, and foster awareness among mainstream society."
"We remain deeply grateful for your support of our puja celebration in 2021. Unfortunately, our applications in 2022 and 2023 were unsuccessful. As you are undoubtedly aware, transgender individuals continue to face significant societal marginalization. This puja holds profound significance for our community members, offering a rare and invaluable opportunity for collective celebration and public outreach," said Sinha.
Adding further, Sinha said, "Unlike larger organizations with diverse funding streams, our event depends entirely on our limited resources and the contributions of our members. As a minority community, we are unable to collect funds from the public. Your support would be instrumental in preserving this vital cultural practice and enhancing our outreach to mainstream society."
Urging CM Banerjee, Sinha said, "As citizens of India, we turn to you, our esteemed Chief Minister, for assistance. Government support for marginalized communities like ours sends a powerful message of inclusion and recognition, reinforcing our place in society. We respectfully urge you to consider supporting our Ardhnarishwar Durga Puja this year. Your assistance would not only enable us to continue this heritage practice but also demonstrate the government's steadfast commitment to uplifting the transgender community."
The activist said that the puja is celebrated every year to create awareness in society and bring marginalized communities to a place of prominence.
"In 2014, the Supreme Court made a landmark judgement on transgender rights, after which we received the respect we deserved," she said.
The transgender activist further highlighted the significance of the puja celebration and said that the Ardhnarishwar Durga Puja was not just a regular puja but a 'social awareness.'
"Thousands of people come here and celebrate this puja as a family. This is an effort to bring the communities of the marginalised class in front of society and give them recognition," she added.
"Funds are donated for the puja every year. Chief Minister has announced Rs 85,000 for the puja this year. The last time we received financial assistance from the Chief Minister was two years back in 2022. After that year, we again tried receiving the funds and applied for the process but we did not receive it," said Sinha.
"The message that the puja gives is that in India all communities and all religions are one. Even in transgenders, we don't see who is from what religion, we all are one. This is a public puja that is celebrated by all. It is a request to the government that we should not be deprived of our rights since we are part of society," she said.
"I wish that the people and the government acknowledge us and provide us with financial assistance," Sinha told ANI.
Dr Ranjita Sinha is a transgender activist with over 30 years of experience in community empowerment.
The organization is a registered NGO under the Society Act and has been dedicated to transgender rights and welfare for the past 22 years. It operates a shelter home and provides crucial support services for transgender individuals.
Each Durga Puja committee in West Bengal will now receive Rs 85,000 in allowances from the state government.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that the allowances will be hiked by another Rs 15,000 next year, making it Rs 1 lakh.