Watch: Transgender folk artist gets Padma Shri, her gesture wins hearts

The Padma Awards ceremony this year had many touching moments. But this one is the most heart warming.

Transgender folk dancer Manjamma Jogati received the Padma Shri honour for her contribution to arts on Monday.

In a video clip tweeted by news agency ANI, Manjamma Jogati is seen approaching the President to receive the award. She then makes a gesture that many in social media said was to wish him luck. She then receives the award, with a warm smile that won hearts. The President also seems touched by the gesture as he hands over the award.

In her 60s, Matha B Manjamma Jogati is a folk dancer. Manjamma Jogati has mastered several art forms, including Jogati Nritya and Janapada songs. Jogati is also known for singing spell-binding sonnets in Kannada in praise of female deities.

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Born in a village near Bellary in Karnataka as Manjunath Shetty, Manjamma Jogati has identified as a woman ever since childhood. Jogati's family took the child to the Huligeyamma temple near Hospet, where Jogati was initiated as a Jogappa.

The Jogappa is a community of transpersons who dedicate themselves to the service of Goddess Renuka Yellamma. As per folklore, members of the Jogappa community are considered married to the goddess