<p>The city’s LGBTQI community held two large gatherings even as police denied permission to hold the annual pride march, citing a high court order.</p>.<p>Slogans such as “My body, my right” and “Namma Deha, Namma Hakku" reverberated in the gatherings on Sunday.</p>.<p>The ‘Ride With Pride’ event was held at Freedom Park, followed by Pride Evening (Hemmeya Sanjeya) at Samsa Bayalu Ranga Mandira near Town Hall to mark the Karnataka Queer Habba.</p>.<p>On a bright and sunny Sunday, rainbow flags fluttered in the breeze against the clear blue sky, setting the tone for the pride festival.</p>.<p>Participants were encouraged to exchange conversations and express themselves amidst electrifying rhythms of dhols and drums. Many took pictures and held a small procession inside the venue.</p>.<p>At the end of the gathering, three buses ferried participants to the Samsa Bayalu Ranga Mandira.</p>.<p>The evening carnival commenced with a monologue by a boy on the struggles of growing up as a queer child and navigating the same in a conservative and traditional household.</p>.<p>Though the performance was in Kannada, everyone could connect to it for how it was put forth. The performance received a standing ovation from the audience.</p>.<p>It was followed by other performances including kathak, fusion dance, drag performance, display of attire, etc.</p>.<p>“There is a lot of joy. As cheesy as it sounds, there is a lot of pride in the air,” said Anjali Mukerjee, a communications student and a participant. “It was more like everyone expected revolt from this event, but this is turning out to be a revolution."</p>.<p>Aayushee Anand, writer and participant, said: "Generally, when people dress up the way they want to, there’s a lot of judgment that goes around, people laugh. But today, everyone here is expressive, everybody is appreciating everyone else. Nobody is divided in terms of gender or religion, it is a safe environment."</p>.<p>The events were organised by the Coalition for Sex Workers, Sexual & Sexuality Minorities’ Rights (CSMR).</p>
<p>The city’s LGBTQI community held two large gatherings even as police denied permission to hold the annual pride march, citing a high court order.</p>.<p>Slogans such as “My body, my right” and “Namma Deha, Namma Hakku" reverberated in the gatherings on Sunday.</p>.<p>The ‘Ride With Pride’ event was held at Freedom Park, followed by Pride Evening (Hemmeya Sanjeya) at Samsa Bayalu Ranga Mandira near Town Hall to mark the Karnataka Queer Habba.</p>.<p>On a bright and sunny Sunday, rainbow flags fluttered in the breeze against the clear blue sky, setting the tone for the pride festival.</p>.<p>Participants were encouraged to exchange conversations and express themselves amidst electrifying rhythms of dhols and drums. Many took pictures and held a small procession inside the venue.</p>.<p>At the end of the gathering, three buses ferried participants to the Samsa Bayalu Ranga Mandira.</p>.<p>The evening carnival commenced with a monologue by a boy on the struggles of growing up as a queer child and navigating the same in a conservative and traditional household.</p>.<p>Though the performance was in Kannada, everyone could connect to it for how it was put forth. The performance received a standing ovation from the audience.</p>.<p>It was followed by other performances including kathak, fusion dance, drag performance, display of attire, etc.</p>.<p>“There is a lot of joy. As cheesy as it sounds, there is a lot of pride in the air,” said Anjali Mukerjee, a communications student and a participant. “It was more like everyone expected revolt from this event, but this is turning out to be a revolution."</p>.<p>Aayushee Anand, writer and participant, said: "Generally, when people dress up the way they want to, there’s a lot of judgment that goes around, people laugh. But today, everyone here is expressive, everybody is appreciating everyone else. Nobody is divided in terms of gender or religion, it is a safe environment."</p>.<p>The events were organised by the Coalition for Sex Workers, Sexual & Sexuality Minorities’ Rights (CSMR).</p>