
Dressed in glittering saris, their faces painted with bright make up, a group of women gather outside an Indian temple to offer blessings to visitors.

They are hijras, the term used to describe cross dressers, intersex people and transgender women who make up the country's 'third gender'. While some of the men are castrated in their journey to become hijras, for many the transformation is a primarily spiritual one. A number undertake a 40-day self-emasculation ritual in the name of the Hindu goddess of Bachuchara Mata.

Their communities across south-east Asia date back more than 4,000 years and they appear in ancient texts as bearers of luck and fertility.

But while for centuries they were sought after to perform blessings and ceremonies, their long-standing religious respect has not protected the hijra from modern-day discrimination.

Widespread prejudice means that it can often be difficult for hijras to find permanent homes - and they are often driven to live in communes on the fringes of society.

Within these communes, there is a firm social structure - organised around the hierarchy of the guru, or mother, over her chela, or daughter. When the relationship between these 'generations' is loving and nurturing, these groups can be a place of security and safety for young hijra who have been ostracised by their families.

One woman, Madhuja, who has been a part of one commune, for four years said: 'Today the hijra community people are very much like my family. That's a place of my comfort. That house that big house is a place of my comfort.'

Today, hijra comprise both communities in which spiritual meanings are preserved, and individuals who assume the identity of hijra to scratch out a living through begging, menial jobs, and, in some cases, sex work.

Last year, the Supreme Court of India ruled in favor of a 'third gender,' recognising members of the hijra community. But while the ruling granted hijra some political and economic rights - discrimination and ignorance still threaten their livelihoods.

Ceremonies: Dressed in brightly-coloured saris, the hijras sit and wait to receive gifts and payments in exchange for carrying out blessings

Community: A group of hijras sit outside the Temple of Bahuchara Mata in Becharaji, in western India, regarded as their cultural centre

Meeting place: Hijras spend most of their time sitting outside the temple - so that those looking for their services can always find them

Disapproval: Those who do not give generously to the waiting hijras can expect to be given a frosty reception and glaring looks

Spiritual: Unlike transgender identities in many western countries, hijras have built their tight-knit communities around religion

Ritual: The vast majority of hijras are males who undergo the 40-day transformation - though female to male transformations also occur

Worship: The temple honours Bachuchara Mata, a Hindu goddess whose followers are known to self-emasculate in a ritual lasting 40 days

Community: (from left to right, starting in back row) Meghna, Kajal, Sathi, Bansi, Maya and Madhuja, live together in the commune

Protective: Sathi, a guru, sits with her arms wrapped around Maya, her chela, or daughter, whom she will teach the customs of the hijra

Living: Pots, pans and cleaning products are stacked on the shelf that runs along the wall of one of the rooms of the commune

Bansi poses with her hands positioned as if about to take part in a traditional dance at the hijra commune in Barasat, near Kolkata

Within these communes, there is a firm social structure - organised around the hierarchy of the guru, or mother, over her chela, or daughter

Sleeping quarters: Washing hangs over a simple wooden frame which serves as one of the day beds in the commune

Meghna (far left) and Bansi (second from left) stand with two other hijra in the courtyard of their commune

One woman carries a large pot through the commune, which relies on each member carrying out chores in order to function

One young hijra, named Maya, shows off her yellow shawl and orange top in this photograph taken inside the commune

Gold jewellery hanging from her ears and neck, Meghna looks into the camera in this rare look inside the walls of the commune