Inside the World of Kinnar Gharanas

In India, the kinnar community—a term used for intersex and transgender individuals—has long been marginalised and often abandoned or rejected by their biological families. For centuries, the kinnar community has built its own supportive networks through the gharana system. This non-biological family structure follows unique kinship patterns based on the principle of discipleship. As Pride Month comes to a close, we take you inside a kinnar gharana—a vital support system for the transgender community in India. According to the 2011  census, there are nearly half a million transgender persons in India, many of whom are part of gharanas, living within the guru-chela (mentor-disciple) system. In the absence of acceptance from their families, the gharanas provide refuge, familiarity, and safety. These