Bollywood actress Mamata Kulkarni, known for her bold and glamorous roles in the 1990s, has officially taken sannyas (renunciation) after 20 years away from the film industry. She has embraced a religious life and has been initiated as the head of a Hindu transgender sect, “Kinnar Akhada.”
On January 24, during the grand Kumbh Mela, Mamata was bestowed with the title “Mahamandaleshwar” and given a new religious name, “Sri Yamai Mamtanand Giri.” She was also made the leader of the Kinnar Akhada’s Ashram in Uttar Pradesh’s Vrandavan, a significant position within the sect that advocates for the rights of transgenders and people with diverse sexual orientations in Hinduism.
Mamata, who joined the Kinnar Akhada in 2018, underwent several rituals at the Kumbh Mela, including a symbolic head shave and milk pouring ceremony, marking her transition into a spiritual leader.
The Kinnar Akhada, a unique Hindu sect, stands for the empowerment and rights of transgenders and has several Ashrams across India. Despite facing opposition from some conservative Hindu groups, the sect remains a vocal advocate for the inclusion of transgender people within the broader Hindu community.
Mamata’s last film in Bollywood was the 2002 release *Kabhi Tum Kabhi Hum*, after which she relocated to Dubai, where she led a reclusive life. Her return to India for the Kumbh Mela and subsequent spiritual transformation marks a significant change in her life.
