Matha B Manjamma Jogati gets Padma Shri, transgender folk dancer`s gesture before receiving award goes viral - Watch

Her gesture was also applauded by the audience which comprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among other dignitaries.

New Delhi: Transgender folk dancer Matha B Manjamma Jogati was honoured with the Padma Shri from President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday (November 9, 2021) and her gesture before receiving the award is winning hearts online. 

As the first transwoman President of Karnataka Janapada Academy approached Prez Kovind, she made a gesture that people say was to wish the President luck.

The video, shared by ANI on Twitter, has so far garnered over 1.2 million views along with 58,000 likes and 13,000 retweets. 

Her way of giving blessings to President Kovind was also applauded by the audience, which comprised Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah, among other dignitaries.  

Watch:

"Saw the video where she was giving blessings to hon'ble president, that showed both our tradition and her simplicity. Congratulations to her for being conferred with 4th highest civilian honour of country," a Twitter user said.

"Truly and Absolutely Peoples Padma," another expressed.

According to the President's Secretariat, Manjamma Jogati received Padma Shri for being instrumental in popularizing the folk art forms practised in rural Karnataka, Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh.

During the two-day ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, a total of seven individuals were given the Padma Vibhushan, 10 were given Padma Bhushan and 101 were given Padma Shri.

Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually. While the Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, the Padma Bhushan is awarded for distinguished service of high order and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.