[Watch] In A first, Transgender ‘Dhol-Tasha’ Troupe Performs At Ganesh Puja In Pune

Pune: For the first time, Maharashtra’s first transgender ‘dhol-tasha’ troupe, named ‘Shikhandi’, performed at the Ganesh Puja celebrations in Pune.

This marks a significant milestone in the festival’s history and is set to make the festival more inclusive. Pune is home to over 200 dhol-tasha troupes and these are an integral part of the festival.

But, the 25-member transgender dhol-tasha troupe made their debut on Saturday at the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganesh Mandal in Pune.

The troupe has been named as ‘Shikhandi’ after a warrior from the Mahabharata who was born a princess but raised as a man. It was founded under the guidance of social activist Kadambari Shaikh and the troupe was mentored by Manasvi Goilkar, Pravin Sonawane, Pritesh Kamble, and Mannat, reported The Indian Express.

“We want the community to stand tall and take pride in what they do. This group is a passive source of income for many, but for many others, it is their identity,” Sonawane told The Indian Express.

Most of the troupe members didn’t know how to play the instruments or had access to those before the group was formed. Traditionally, the transwoman-dominant community had relied on dancing, begging, or ‘Basti Badhai’ and sex work to earn their living, but the members of the troupe opined that this would be an alternative income for them.

The troupe had been practicing since June for about three to four hours a day. They would be performing at major processions in Pune. While four members of the group have a fixed salary, three members are unemployed. These unemployed members work on freelancing projects. The rest earn their living by engaging in daily wage tasks. Despite financial hurdles, they leave no stone unturned in taking their initiative to people in Pune with hard work and dedication.