Sacred Rhythms, Living Histories of Jogappa community

Long before the language of inclusion entered our workplaces, India held space for gender in all its complexity through diverse cultural and spiritual traditions. The Jogappas are one such living tradition — a transgender community whose identity, livelihood, and spiritual practice have remained deeply intertwined for centuries through devotion to Goddess Yellamma.

Sacred Rhythms, Living Histories of Jogappa community invites audiences into this world through an intimate cultural experience where music, storytelling, and handmade instruments carry forward a tradition rooted at the intersection of faith, folklore, and identity. Drawing from rich oral histories across north Karnataka, south Maharashtra, west Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, the Jogappas perform devotional compositions in praise of Goddess Yellamma while sharing glimpses into their lived realities and cultural heritage.

In collaboration with the Solidarity Foundation, this interactive session brings together the lived cultural knowledge of the Jogappa tradition and academic perspectives on its history, music, and spiritual practice, offering audiences a rare opportunity to listen closely, engage meaningfully, and deepen their understanding of this powerful living art form.