Pune’s LGBTQI+ community marches to rainbow hues with pride parade

Over 800 people soaked themselves in the colours of the rainbow as it was a celebration of equal love with bonhomie and pomp, as Pune’s ninth pride parade was flagged off from Sambhaji Garden to the thumping beats of the dhol-tasha. With Pune’s LGBTQIA+ community in full attendance, mothers, bisexual women, lesbians from rural Maharashtra and several first-timers were also seen taking ownership of the parade. Amidst the slogans of ‘Jo bhi hai acche hai, yeh humare bacche hai’, by parents and ‘Prem mhanje prem asta, tumcha amcha same asta’ and others, the procession commenced at Sambhaji park and took a turn at the Garware bridge, thereon took to FC Road and back to where the march started. “For the first time, the community danced to the tunes of dhol-tasha without any barriers or restrictions”, said Transgender rights activist, Sonali Dalvi who was happily seen dancing to the tunes of the music. This year, even corporate companies from Pune too, showed their support to friends from the community. Dressed in matching T-shirts, they shouted slogans, waved flags alongside the community and didn’t miss the opportunity to canvas about their company's inclusive policies. In all, happy faces shined at Pune’s ninth pride parade.