HIJRAS IN HINDUS AND MUSLIMS

The Hindu side of hijra culture is closely tied to the worship of God in the form of Bahuchara Mata, something that does not have any significance amongst the khusras of Pakistan. However, Muslim hijras in India carry out a certain interreligious respect for the sacred places of Bahuchara Mata. Hindu hijras usually also celebrate Muslim festivals, follow many Muslim customs, often carry Muslim female names and are - like Muslims - buried (although hindus are usually burned) after death. Thus, one can see that the hijra community has its historical roots both in Islam and in Hinduism.