Viral video: Transgender folk dancer's unique gesture before President at Padma awards

Matha B Manjamma Jogati received the Padma Shri on Monday. (Image credit: Photo tweeted by @ANI)

Matha B Manjamma Jogati, a transgender folk dancer from Karnataka, was among those who received the Padma awards on Monday.
Manjamma, who belongs to the Jogamma heritage, was conferred with the Padma Shri for the year 2020 under the category of art.
She is the first transwoman president of Karnataka government’s Karnataka Janapada Academy, an organisation dedicated to the conservation and protection of folklore.

President Ram Nath Kovind, in his Twitter post on Manjamma, said she has been instrumental in popularising folk art forms practiced in rural Karnataka, Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh.

A video of the folk artiste going up to the President to receive the Padma Shri has been widely shared and appreciated by people.
When her name is announced, Manjamma is seen walking in the prestigious Durban Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan and going to President Kovind. What she did next pleasantly appeared to pleasantly surprise the President and the audience. She performed a unique gesture with the pallu of her saree, an act that is done to ward off the evil eye.

#WATCH | Transgender folk dancer of Jogamma heritage and the first transwoman President of Karnataka Janapada Academy, Matha B Manjamma Jogati receives the Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind. pic.twitter.com/SNzp9aFkre

— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2021

The clip, shared by news agency ANI, has been widely shared and has received over 1.6 million views in less than 24 hours.

Thousands of people commented on the video, appreciating Manjamma’s gesture.

President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Matha B. Manjamma Jogati for Art. She is the Chairman of Karnataka Janapada (Folklore) Academy. She has been instrumental in popularizing the folk art forms practised in rural Karnataka, Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/bXslLbHwli

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 9, 2021

Her gestures were beautiful.
Not sure if the right protocol was followed in front of the president,
But they were beautiful.

— Mohammad Danish Shaikh(MDS) (@TheDanishShaikh) November 9, 2021

What a Gesture & Respect towards each other. ! https://t.co/c6hsCT8fX6

— (@HasdaaPunjab) November 9, 2021

She actually venerated the president

Award was for her!!!!

So much humility!

Speaks volumes of our culture,

Foreign language & education made us think success is only money, money, money

— Nishant Shet (@shet47) November 9, 2021

The humility and patience of President is also amazing. He's shown the same energy in giving away every single award.

— Vinnu Shanbhag

Many such heartwarming scenes were witnessed during the presentation of the Padma awards.

102-year-old Nanda Prusty, who was conferred the Padma Shri for literature and education, blessed the President as he went to receive the award.

President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Shri Nanda Prusty for Literature & Education. 102-yr-old “Nanda sir”, who provided free education to children and adults at Jajpur, Odisha for decades, raised his hands in a gesture of blessing the President. pic.twitter.com/4kXPZz5NCJ

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 9, 2021

President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Smt Tulsi Gowda for Social Work. She is an environmentalist from Karnataka who has planted more than 30,000 saplings and has been involved in environmental conservation activities for the past six decades. pic.twitter.com/uWZWPld6MV

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 8, 2021

Environmentalist Tulasi Gowda and orange seller Harekala Hajabba from Karnataka, both of whom walked barefoot to receive their Padma Shri awards, also won the internet’s heart.