By Kashif Hasan
Karachi: The historic Burns Garden transformed into a vibrant hub of culture and activism on Sunday as it hosted the Third Hijra Festival 2025, a powerful celebration blending identity, art, and advocacy under the urgent theme of climate change awareness.
The festival, organized by prominent activist Kami Choudhry, brought together voices from across Pakistan to promote a message of humanity, equality, and collective action in the face of the global climate crisis.
“Climate change is not just a community issue — it’s a shared human challenge,” said Choudhry, welcoming attendees. “We’ve invited people from all walks of life because this cause concerns the very survival of humanity.”
Transgender and human rights activist Heer Alvi drew attention to the growing climate emergency, linking environmental justice to human dignity.
“We believe in liberating people from all kinds of suffering,” she said. “Floods have displaced countless families, and smog has turned Lahore into one of the most polluted cities in the world. Our struggle is for awareness, compassion, and change.”
Veteran activist Bindia Rana, reflecting on the evolution of the transgender rights movement, praised the younger generation’s leadership and resilience.
“In our time, challenges were fewer,” she noted. “Today, awareness about transgender rights is growing — but violence and murders still continue. Authorities must take notice.”
She added, “Every human being is a creation of God, deserving of respect — and we seek the same in return.”
The festival featured a symbolic rally led by Dr Sarah, with participants marching from the main gate of Burns Garden to the central pavilion, where community members performed dhamaal and chanted slogans of freedom and solidarity.
Adding a joyful touch, Rani, a transgender participant, set up a free gol gappa stall, serving visitors as a gesture of love and inclusion — a moment that captured the festival’s spirit of compassion and unity.
The Hijra Festival 2025 underscored the growing role of Pakistan’s transgender community in climate activism, blending cultural expression with a call for environmental consciousness and human rights.
