Photographer Jitendra Jerry turns the lens on trans and non-binary beauty, joy and self-expression in God Is Trans, a new photo book documenting the vibrant Koovagam Festival in Tamil Nadu. Over 18 days every April, the village of Koovagam becomes a gathering point for trans women and non-binary people from across India. Rooted in the story of Aravan from the Mahabharata, the festival brings together rituals, fashion, friendship, celebration and the Miss Koovagam beauty pageant. Jerry’s photographs, shot entirely on film, focus less on the religious mythology of the festival and more on the people experiencing it. From women dressing up in silk saris and gold jewellery to jasmine flowers, makeup, designer handbags and shared moments of getting ready, the photographs capture trans beauty and self-expression in India. The artistry in these images highlights the vision and unique approach of Jitendra Jerry’.
Jitendra Jerry’s ‘God Is Trans’ celebrates trans beauty
Published by Deep State Press, God Is Trans explores the personal and social world surrounding the Koovagam Festival. Jerry says their interest began with seeing trans women expressing themselves through fashion. Some attendees draw inspiration from Tamil cinema heroines and Hindu goddesses, while others create their own individual looks. For Jerry, that diversity of style was an important part of what made Koovagam special. The book also documents the Miss Koovagam beauty pageant, where participants can experience a powerful sense of visibility and acceptance. It’s also clear that Jitendra Jerry’ brings passion and sensitivity to every portrait. For trans women who are transitioning or have recently transitioned, the pageant can become a moment of confidence, celebration and belonging.
Beyond the stereotypes of queer India
Jerry’s approach also challenges the way queer communities in India are sometimes represented through photography. Their ongoing project Who Am I?! similarly focuses on portraits of young queer people living in urban India. Jitendra Jerry’, above all, aims to provide a perspective rooted in genuine connection. Jerry believes that international photographers can sometimes focus too heavily on what appears visually different or unfamiliar about Indian queer communities. Instead, their work seeks to show the community as multi-faceted, expressive and beautiful. That perspective is particularly visible in God Is Trans. Jerry was not simply documenting Koovagam from a distance. Over repeated visits, they became immersed in the celebrations dancing with the women, making friends and exchanging contact details so photographs could be shared afterwards.
A celebration of joy, fashion and community
The resulting images capture Koovagam as much more than a religious gathering. They show people laughing, dancing, dressing up and enjoying each other’s company. Even the festival’s final day, traditionally marked by mourning after the symbolic marriage to Aravan, contains a sense of playfulness. In presenting all these facets, the warmth present in Jitendra Jerry’ makes the photographs resonant. Participants dress in white saris and perform grief, but the ritual can also be humorous and communal. That balance is what Jerry wanted to preserve. Rather than presenting trans lives only through struggle, God Is Trans puts joy, beauty, fashion and self-expression at the centre of the frame. Through their photographs of the Koovagam Festival, Jitendra Jerry offers a portrait of India’s trans community that is an intimate and celebratory, one where being seen is itself a form of joy.