Radhika’s “daughters” as she affectionately calls them pose for a portrait near their shared settlement outside of Mahim train station in Mumbai, India. The hijra community in Mumbai is predominantly hierarchical, where more experienced and mature hijras act as guardians and superiors to younger hijras.
Radhika, 30, originally from Andhra Pradesh has been living in Mumbai for eight years, making a living by performing “blessings” and begging on trains with other hijras from her community. Radhika lives and works with other hijras from Andhra Pradesh, as they speak the same language and are often under the guidance of the same guru.
Mita, 23, applies makeup and gets ready to go out on the trains to give blessings to passengers. In Hinduism, Hijra’s were once revered as demi-gods, and while society has somewhat rejected them as outcasts, there is a superstition around hijras, and many Indians will give small amounts of money for good luck.
Sapna, 23, poses for a portrait outside of her Guru’s room in a decrepit settlement next to Bandra station in Mumbai, India. Like the community she lives with, Sapna originally comes from Andhra Pradesh and moved to Mumbai for a better life. She completed her “gender” surgery on year back. “My inside tells me I’m a woman, so now I feel happy.” She is now saving up to have breast implants from sex work and offering blessings.
Rithika, 23 and Ammu, 21 from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, are pictured outside of the room where they stay with their Guru around GTB Nagar Station. They have adopted each other as sisters. “When I was in 2nd standard I realized I was not a man, I wanted to be a lady and realized my femininity…I came [to Mumbai] because I was afraid my family would emotionally torture me and prevent me from my destiny of being a transgender” said Rithika. “If we walk on the road or on the street, people watch us like an alien, as something differently created. That has to be changed, we have to be seen as an equal” said Ammu.