Pune, The vibrant streets of Pune’s old city came alive on Sunday as over 1,500 people joined the annual Pride Walk organised by the Yutak LGBTQ Trust. Marchers walked from Abhinav Chowk to Mandai and back, chanting powerful slogans like “Tumcha amcha same asta, prem mhanje prem asta” (Yours and mine, it's the same. Love is love).
The event saw participation from a diverse cross-section of society, including employees from leading corporations such as Kohler, Cummins, and Deutsche Bank, who proudly wore their company’s pride-themed merchandise in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
Prominent voices at the march included Dr. Sanvi Jethvani, Co-Vice President of the Transgender Welfare Board of Maharashtra, and Protyush Borgohain from Kohler, the event's corporate sponsor. They served as marshals of the walk. District Judge Sonal Patil, who was also invited as a marshal, could not attend the event.
Addressing the crowd from a podium decorated with images of Maharashtra’s historic reformers — including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule, and Savitribai Phule — Dr. Jethvani delivered a stirring message.
“There is a line by Sane Guruji that says the only true dharma is one that loves everyone. This society is stuck in the shackles of genitalia, but today we say proudly — gay, trans, or queer — we are human,” she said.
She also acknowledged the internal battles many face before embracing their identity:
“This struggle is threefold — against yourself, your family, and society. And unless you win against yourself, you can’t fight the rest.”
Several civil society organisations, including the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, Family Planning Association of India, and National Legal Services Authority, also participated in the march with their banners.
Yutak Trust founder Anil Ukarande said the walk had two core objectives this year — to thank the Maharashtra government for reviving the Transgender Welfare Board, and to appreciate Pune Police for effectively curbing extortion cases linked to dating apps, which had seen a recent surge.
“We’ve seen a drop in these crimes after approaching the police, and we’re grateful for their response,” Ukarande added.
The Pride Walk not only celebrated love and identity but also served as a reminder of the courage it takes to live authentically and the strength that comes from community solidarity.