A Dash of Pride: Kinship, Culture & Community in the World of Hijras

Chosen Kinship: The Guru-Chela Bond

The Hijra community — recognized as a third gender in India — builds its social world through kinship that transcends bloodlines. At the center of this is the guru-chela system:

• Guru (mentor): A senior Hijra who nurtures, guides, and protects.

• Chela (disciple): A newer entrant who learns the customs, rituals, and roles of the community under their guru’s care.

These chosen bonds create deep emotional and social ties, often replacing biological families that may have rejected them.

Living Arrangements & Chosen Families

Hijra individuals may live in:

• Heterosexual neighborhoods, independently or with live-in or married partners.

• Hijra neighborhoods, surrounded by others from the same clan, fostering stronger community identity and mutual support.

Relationships within the community mirror a family structure. Hijras refer to one another in female familial terms:

• Sisters (peers)

• Maasis (maternal aunts – seniors)

• Naani (grandmother guru – guru of one's guru)

Hierarchy and the Gharana System

The community is highly structured and organized into gharanas — dynasties or houses — made up of Hijras from different regions. Each gharana follows a strict hierarchy:

• Naayak: The head of the gharana and its key decision-maker and policy leader.

• Gurus: Leaders under the Naayak who oversee daily matters and mentor younger members.

• Chelas: Disciples learning the traditions, performances, and community etiquette from their gurus.

There is no fixed rule for becoming a guru — status is earned through experience and leadership within the group.

Spirituality and Regional Identity

Religious identity plays a crucial role in Hijra culture:

• In North India, many Hijras are devotees of Bahuchara Mata, a goddess representing non-conformity and divine power. Her blessings are sought for fertility and protection.

• In South India, Renuka is believed to hold the power to change one's sex. Her male devotees, the jogappa, dress in feminine attire and, like Hijras, bless births and weddings through song and dance.

These spiritual affiliations lend legitimacy and reverence to Hijra identities in local cultural traditions.

Cultural Roles & Traditions: Evolving with Pride

Historically, Hijras have played ceremonial and spiritual roles in Indian society:

• Blessings at weddings and childbirths, believed to bring luck and fertility.

• Performing arts — dance, song, and storytelling — as a livelihood and a form of cultural preservation.

• Ritual knowledge passed down through gharanas, maintaining community identity and continuity.

But tradition doesn’t mean stagnation.

In the modern world, while the Hijra community continues to uphold the values of kinship, ritual, and resilience, many individuals are redefining visibility:

• Stepping into corporate workspaces, often navigating bias while advocating for inclusion.

• Claiming space in education, from schools and colleges to government exams and scholarships.

• Accessing public life in metros, from healthcare and housing to pride parades and public offices.

This blend of heritage and hope reflects a growing dual identity — firmly rooted in collective culture, yet boldly individual in aspiration. It’s not just about tradition or transition — it’s about coexistence, courage, and choice.

Learn More:

Explore this detailed chapter for a deep dive into the Hijra community’s kinship and caste-like structures:🔗 Understanding Caste and Kinship within Hijras – A “Third” Gender Community in India