hijra

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Two hijras dressed, members of India's third gender, in colorful traditional clothing and jewelry, smiling at the Pushkar Camel Fair in India.

Two hijras in colorful traditional sarees and jewelry take a selfie together, posing in front of a dark tiled wall before a performance in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Granite statue of Ardhanarishvara, the Hindu god Shiva depicted as half-male and half-female, from 14th-century Tamil Nadu, India.

Hindu transgender devotees, dressed in festive clothing and jewelry, ride a decorated vehicle during Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, participating in the shahi snan procession.

A hijra individual in colorful traditional attire and jewelry leads a street procession with drummers and onlookers during a religious festival in Amravati, India.

Rama on Horseback

Two hijra individuals in traditional clothing pose together under a colorful canopy at Ajmer Sharif Dargah, a Sufi shrine.

hijra: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

Meg Matthias
Meg Matthias is Senior Video Production Manager at Encyclopædia Britannica.
Charles Preston
Charles Preston is Associate Editor for Religion at Encyclopædia Britannica.

Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	New article added.	Charles Preston Meg Matthias	May 28, 2026