President Ram Nath Kovind handed over Padma Awards to the recipients at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. Manjamma Jogati, a transgender folk dancer received a Padma Shri award. She is the first transwoman president of Karnataka Janapada Academy. Now, the video of Manjamma Jogati approaching Ram Nath Kovind is going viral. She made a gesture and the netizens are saying that it was to wish him luck. Later, she receives the award with a smile. Here is the video, just give a look at it.
Look at the tradition
Loved this video
This is India #PeoplesPadma #ManjammaJogathi the folk artist and first transgender to head a Govt academy in Karnataka gets #Padmasri pic.twitter.com/UcYArvNc7j— Swathi Bellam (@BellamSwathi) November 9, 2021
Manjamma Jogati, a 60-year-old transwoman awarded with Padma Shri after decades of social and financial struggle. Originally named Manjunath Shetty, Manjamma Jogati began to identify as a woman in adolescence. Later, she was taken to Huligeyamma’s temple near Hospet to be initiated as a Jogappa – a community of transgenders who have dedicated their lives in the service of the Goddess Renuka Yellamma. People believe that those transgenders of this community are married to the goddess.
She faced many problems and was raped as well. Despite many problems, she learnt art forms, Jogati Nritya and Janapada songs, Kannada language sonnets in praise of various female deities.
Manjamma Jogati was awarded the Karnataka Janapada Academy Award in 2006. Later in 2019, she was appointed president of the institution. In 2010, she was honoured with annual Kannada Rajyotsava award by the Karnataka government.