The religious transfeminism of the Kinnar Akhāṛā

Abstract

Established in 2015, the Kinnar Akhāṛā is a Hindu religious order of gender non-conforming individuals rooted in the hijṛā tradition but structured akin to traditional Hindu ascetic groups. Kinnars aspire to enhance the social inclusion and acceptance of transgender people within Indian society by reclaiming their (supposed) historical religious role in Hinduism. In this pursuit, they challenge the patriarchal, male-dominated ethos of traditional ascetic orders, but also face criticism from those who see them pandering to right-wing Hindutva ideology to garner political favour from the central government. This article examines the Kinnar Akhāṛā as an example of religious transfeminism, a form of feminism that integrates various strands of feminist thinking into a religious group. By describing how this religious transfeminism manifests in religious space, activism, and a decolonial and intersectional approach, this article expands feminist discourse beyond the narratives of the global North and highlights forms of alternative empowerment to achieve religious and social transformations in India.