Category:Devadasi

The Devadasi tradition (Hindi: देवदासी / ದೇವದಾಸಿ; "servant of god") is a religious Hindu tradition in which girls are "married" and dedicated to a deity (deva or devi) or to a temple. Devadesi includes performance aspects such as those that take place in the temple as well as in the courtly and mujuvani (Telegu) or home context. Dance and music were essential part of temple worship. Originally, in addition to this and taking care of the temple and performing rituals, these women learned and practiced Sadir (Bharatanatya), Odissi and other classical Indian artistic traditions and enjoyed a high social status.