Hyderabad: Matha B Manjamma Jogati, a prominent practitioner of Jogati Nritya, earned the coveted Padma Shri award for her contribution to the art form on Tuesday. The manner in which she greeted President Ram Nath Kovind at the ceremonial ceremony has gotten the most attention.

Manjamma approached the President as soon as her name was called, extending the fringe of her saree towards him to wish him success before accepting the award. According to popular belief, a good wish from a transsexual might bring luck.

The crowd, which included Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, applauded the gesture enthusiastically.

Manjunatha Shetty was born in Bellary, Karnataka, and attended school till the tenth grade. Her parents brought him to a temple in Hospet and had him perform Jogappa at the age of 15 since she had always identified as a woman. It is a religious ceremony in which worshippers are said to marry a god or goddess.

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Manjunath Shetty was renamed Manjamma Jogathi after that. She was, however, barred from returning home. She subsequently began asking for money on the streets in order to survive. She claims she was molested sexually and attempted suicide. But she ultimately met a father and son who taught her how to dance. She had to deal with terrible poverty and abuse over the years.

She met Kallava Jogathi, who taught her Manjamma Jogathi Nrithya, a Jogappa traditional folk dance. She took over the troupe after Kaalavva's death, and the dance grew more famous.

In 2019, she was named chairperson of the Karnataka Janapada Academy. She is the state's first trans woman to lead a cultural academy.