Curated by a Maharani, how a garba hosted on palace grounds in Vadodara has become a safe space for LGBTQ community

Like Sonia and Payal, this garba has been doubling up as a sanctuary of sorts for several members of the LGBTQ community in the city since 2021.

Curated by the royal family’s Radhikaraje Gaekwad, the garba witnesses many from the LGBTQ community proudly walking in with special category entry passes that read “Devotion has no gender”.

Revellers play garba at the Lukshmi Vilas Palace Heritage held at Moti Baug Cricket Ground. (Express Photo)

Says Sonia, who works at a financial institution in the city: “Dance is a vehicle for expression of emotions. And what can be better than garba to do it? To have a garba venue that recognises the LGBTQ community as an integral part of the celebrations just makes it special…”

A regular patron, Sonia says, “There are no disapproving eyes or frowns and all the players just infuse into one big circle of dancers enthralled by the beat of the music and the lyrics in devotion of Maa Ambe… It is a space where both Priyal and I can be ourselves and express our love, although she is yet to confide in her family about her identity…”

An ‘Indian pride parade’

For Radhikaraje, organising the LVP garba was no cakewalk as she had to overcome initial trolling and resistance for her initiative to include the LGBTQ community prominently in the celebrations. She says the journey has been both empowering and challenging, born out of her instinct and the “relationship of trust” built with the community while working with them during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Calling it a “utopian” space, Radhikaraje speaks with a sense of fulfilment as she calls the LVP garba an “Indian pride parade” for the LGBTQ community.

“For me, garba is a congregation of people coming together as a community for a reason and there is a sense of unison already; it is a powerful, energising and mobilising space. So, for me, it was about how can I be a catalyst in creating something bigger that can bring about change… Bringing in people, who may not be included in the society…” says Radikharaje. “So, it is kind of a utopian place where everyone is meeting for a purpose larger than themselves… Many have used this platform to come out and embrace their identities keeping up with the Indian ethos and culture, not having to wave a rainbow flag… It is a space where they can come out in a respectful, traditional way,” says Radhikaraje.

For Radhikaraje, organising the LVP garba was no cakewalk as she had to overcome initial trolling and resistance for her initiative to include the LGBTQ community prominently in the celebrations. (Express Photo)

Raje, the crowned Maharani of the royal family, also pioneered Gazra cafe in the old city of Vadodara, which is considered Gujarat’s first café run by transgender persons.

Her association with the LGBTQ community began during the Covid-19 pandemic, when she reached out to fellow royal and gay prince, Manvendrasinh Gohil, to understand how she could help the community in times of crisis. “What began as an outreach with dry ration kits for the community turned into a relationship of trust as I literally coaxed the members of the LGBTQ community to take up vocational training courses at the Shri Maharani Chimnabai Stree Udyogalaya to be able to fend for themselves. Soon, they also joined my support team but it was in the vocational training classroom that I saw magic… Without any announcements and separate classes, I saw the LGBTQ students interact with the regular trainees and it was one cohesive learning room without prejudices or reservations…” she adds.

Revellers play garba at the Lukshmi Vilas Palace Heritage held at Moti Baug Cricket Ground. (Express Photo)

With no garba celebrations held in 2020 due to the pandemic, Radhikaraje had to wait another year to bring the community into mainstream garba. “In 2021, when I scaled up the heritage garba, I invited the members of the LGBTQ community to participate for the first time…I wanted to create a space and awareness and to make the garbas meaningful…” she adds.

Speaking about the “centuries-old connection” of the royal family with the kinnar community, and especially the presence of a temple dedicated to Goddess Bahuchar Mata under the royal family’s temple trust, Radhikaraje adds, “I wanted them to be in the fulcrum… They are ordained by Maa (Ambe) to be there… I also brought Rani kohenur (Sushant Digvekar) in 2021… Her drag performance became iconic and she came next year, too. And now she has her own garba — which is incredible how her own career graph has shaped after being provided with that space… We have also had Padma Shri Narthaki Nataraj participating in the garbas at LVP… It is very special to me as Bahuchar Maa is one of my favourites.”

The 18th-century Bahuchar Mata temple in Vadodara city is dedicated to a deity worshipped by transgender people. At LVP, garbas dedicated to Bahuchar Maa are sung with gusto. “The Bahuchar Maa garbas are very special to me. Our family has the Bahuchar maa temple as part of the trust because the Marathas were working for the community… Baroda state had its own community of transgenders and back then, they were called Gaekwadi ‘hijras’ (now kinnars). They were issued a certificate of citizenship of the erstwhile state… They were given rights to seek ‘bakshish’ for blessings to earn a living and even when they came to bless the royal child, they were given a golden sikka (coin)…” she tells The Indian Express.

Revellers play garba at the Lukshmi Vilas Palace Heritage held at Moti Baug Cricket Ground. (Express Photo)

At the LVP garba, Radhikaraje has created a separate registration for those who identify themselves as part of the LGBTQ community. They are charged a nominal fee and given special entry cards. “This came about as the community did not want to play for free… They insisted on paying a fee and registering in order to also make it safe and secure. I am glad to say that their numbers are increasing. Once inside, they play with the regular patrons. Sometimes, I bring them to the core of the garba, where we install the idol of Maa to bring them into prominence…” says Radhikaraje.

The Bolto Ambo — a tree where patrons can tie a piece of paper with messages on equality, women’s safety and any other wish for the world — is also a major attraction and space for expression. Radhikaraje says, “I do a lot of things with my gut… When you work with them (LGBTQ community), you realise the problems they are facing… I am also glad that Vadodara has changed a lot and there is so much of unison and acceptance on the garba ground… Although many may not openly speak about their (sexual orientation), a lot of people come to me and say that their parents have now accepted them. It has become, over the years, a ‘coming out’ space.”

For those who identify themselves as straight or heterosexual, the event has helped break many preconceived notions.
Garba enthusiast and volunteer Mehul Suthar, who also works with people of the LGBTQ community, says, “Initially, I feared the stigma. But as I got associated with members of the LGBTQ community, I stopped worrying about what others would think of me… The LVP garba becomes a safe place for the community as they can be themselves, dress the way they want to and dance as they like… for instance, many men who would like to indulge in feminine dancing or cross-dressing can do so without any hesitation. I have seen the acceptance grow on the ground between regular patrons and those from the LGBTQ community over the years.”

One of the many ambassadors of LVP garba, Akkshay Patadeiya, a jeweller and a social work consultant, says, “We can see that there is an unspoken respect and acceptance between the regular patrons and the LGBTQ community. Even when people cross each other at the venue, either in the circle or at the food court, smiles are exchanged and there is no judgment… Being a straight, regular patron and a brand ambassador, I feel glad to be associated with a garba promoting equal rights.”

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