“Khamma Ghani” to my fellow readers from across the world!
I am Nandita, a queer woman, entrepreneur, and events planner from Jaipur, Rajasthan (the “Pink City” of India).
Rajasthan, a vibrant state, is celebrated in every travelogue for its grand architecture, dreamy destination weddings, lip-smacking food, delectable sweets, and unmatched hospitality. But beyond this colourful picture lies a reality, the word queer and our rainbow community have often had an uncomfortable relationship with this traditional land. The reasons are layered and complex, but what excites me is the possibility of weaving queerness into this cultural fabric.
Coming to terms with my sexuality in Jaipur was never easy. It was backed by fear, of institutionalization, of patriarchy, of social pressures deeply ingrained in the way I was raised.
As the Founder Director of Mango Soufflé Productions, I curate events at the intersection of Arts and Social Impact, conceptualizing ideas, bringing diverse communities together, and building meaningful impact. I also founded Rajasthan’s first and only Queer Women’s Collective two years ago, to create a platform for queer-identifying and gender non-conforming women (AFABs). At the heart of all my work lies a single intention: to create safe, affirming spaces for queer communities and open them up to the larger cultural ecosystem around us.
As a queer person, festivals and traditions often felt alienating. While others returned home to celebrate with loved ones, I watched rituals constructed almost exclusively for heterosexual, married women. The weight of that exclusion was overwhelming. Like many queer people, I often questioned the very concept of home: a space of belonging? After spending 30 years feeling deprived of it, I realized I could no longer wait for someone else to hand it to me.
I always admired how rich and diverse Indian festivals are, something we all take pride in, yet queers never had the chance to celebrate them in our own ways. I loved showing my city to friends and outsiders, but I had never experienced Jaipur through a queer lens. So, I decided to create those experiences myself.
That urge became my journey. Our first major breakthrough was during the Jaipur Queer Gulabi Pride Parade 2023, which I co-organized. I proposed that Jaipur Pride should feel culturally rooted, reflecting the city’s ethos. So instead of just the parade, we formatted week-long Pre-Pride events that celebrated Indian queer history, culture, and the everyday stories from Jaipur’s by lanes. This idea not only expanded the reach of Pride but also mobilized allies and made queerness visible within the city’s cultural rhythm
One of the highlights was a Queer Food Walk through Jaipur’s old city. We mapped a 2-kilometer trail of iconic food vendors and invited the queer community to join. It wasn’t just about tasting food, it was about walking together in solidarity, visibly queer in the city’s historic lanes, and reclaiming culture as our own.
The success of these events gave us courage to dream bigger. Soon came Gulabi Dandiya (a dance played with sticks), inspired by Jaipur’s identity as the Pink City.
During Diwali, when families return home to light up their houses, we wanted to recreate that feeling of joy with our chosen family. For the first time, 300 queer people from across Rajasthan and beyond came together to celebrate. We danced the night away to traditional songs with our partners, friends, and loved ones, a sight of queer joy wrapped in culture.
Another milestone was in February 2025, when we curated an evening that connected the queer community with Jaipur’s courtesans, or tawaifs. Historically celebrated for their music and dance, their legacies are now almost forgotten. At our event, they welcomed us warmly, performing and sharing stories that resonated deeply with the queer experience of resilience. For many attendees, it felt like reclaiming a chapter of history where queerness and art had always quietly intersected.
Through these experiences, one truth stands out for me: culture connects us. No matter what our identities or languages may be, festivals and traditions carry the ethos, emotions, and belonging we all crave. For too long, queers were distanced from this shared cultural space. But by adding a “queer flavor” to it, we are reclaiming our place within it, and inviting the global queer diaspora to experience Jaipur in its most authentic, traditional, and yet radically inclusive way.
Of course, this hasn’t been a cakewalk. Organizing queer events in a conservative city has meant constant resistance, from authorities and venue owners who misunderstand empathy and inclusivity. It takes a collective, not just a handful of us, to push back and create safe ecosystems. We need more voices, more support, and more allies.
My dream is simple: that someday, Jaipur will be proudly known not just as the Pink City, but also as a Queer Rajasthan, where culture becomes a safe space for all.
Nandita Gupta (she/her) is a queer entrepreneur, events planner, and founder of Rajasthan's first Queer Women’s Collective. Based in Jaipur, she curates events that blend social impact and arts, creating safe spaces for queer communities. Nandita is part of the TUI Futureshapers Global: LGBTQIA+ Travel Innovators Program, a collaboration between the IGLTA Foundation and TUI Care Foundation that supports LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs shaping the future of tourism. Learn more here.