They often live in "houses" or "families" under a guru who helps navigate societal discrimination.
Seema Kumar, a transgender woman from Mumbai, described being abandoned, homeless, and facing abuse before finding work in a beauty salon. Progress and Legal Recognition
She feels unsafe to go home after India passes anti-trans bill
Transgender activist Abhina Aher described her experience of transitioning as a painful physical and psychological transformation, saying, "I just wanted to become a beautiful butterfly".
Many hijras are abandoned by their families at a young age, often experiencing sexual abuse and violence.