Queerness and spirituality come collectively at Interfaith Pride Fest, a first-of-its-kind occasion in Hyderabad on June 14. Organised by DragVanti (a performing arts theatre) in collaboration with Rubaroo, Mobbera Foundation, Humans of Nirvana, and Bagh Bean Cafe, the competition goals to create an area for expression, reflection, and celebration. According to drag artiste Patruni Chidananda Sastry, the fest is a response to the rising spiritual intolerance confronted by queer communities throughout the nation.
Sharing experiences
The fest provides a platform for people to share their experiences of navigating religion whereas being queer. “Many LGBTQIA+ people are often told their faith and identity cannot coexist, leaving them excluded from both religious spaces and queer circles for being too much of one or the other,” says Patruni. The competition goals to create an area the place each identities can be held with dignity and respect.
Line-up of occasions
Deepti on navigating atheism and queerness
Kiran Raj on Christianity and trans id
Antony on yoga for queers and unchecking faith
Akki & Suprio on queer weddings throughout and past faiths
Emma on interfaith ideology and queer futurism
Panel with Kali, Jeevan, Jai & Riyaan on Gen Z and religion
Bebo on being Muslim and trans girls
Savithri on interfaith worldviews by way of a queer lens
Avijit, Chinmayee & Vaibhav on queerness and classical dance (Odissi, Kuchipudi, Kathak)
KheMaya’s drag efficiency “Diva and Divine”
Aeina’s drag-Kathak storytelling “Cognitive Dissonance”
Interfaith drag music by Patruni Sastry
A closing circle of non secular reflections with everybody
The four-hour occasion (5 pm to 9 pm) options stay performances by queer artists from various religion backgrounds, together with storytelling periods and a chat sequence. Speakers will discover subjects akin to navigating atheism and queerness, Gen Z’s relationship with faith and religion, and the way same-sex married {couples} view marriage by way of the lens of religion.
Avijit throughout a efficiency
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Special Arrangement
When Patruni first began doing drag in 2019, many noticed it as an “anti-culture” artwork type — one thing hypersexual and out of doors conventional norms. But drawing from classical types, Patruni realised that drag, too, can interact with questions of religion. This curiosity finally led to deeper interfaith work.
Patruni was a part of a workforce that travelled to the UK for the Interfaith Youth Leadership programme organised by NGO Rubaroo, which introduced collectively folks of all faiths — queer and LGBTQIA+ — to reclaim religion areas. Events just like the annual Interfaith Pride Fest in America and the Dragon Spirituality Summit additionally turned sources of inspiration.
Interfaith Pride Fest at Bagh Bean Cafe in Hyderabad on June 14; Entry free
Published – June 12, 2025 11:45 am IST
