DEVADASIS IN INDIA
HISTORY OF DEVADASIS IN INDIA. The word devadasi means “a girl dedicated to a deity in a temple for worship and service of god”. In Indian history it was very much prominent in southern and western parts of India. The dedication of the dirl takes place in a ceremony called “pottukattu” which is similar to marriage. In this marriage the girl from a devadasi family gets married with god. And then she is sent into the temple to spend her whole life there. This tradition has started in sixth century in india. Devadasis act as the the temple care takersand perform all rituals including dance and music in the honour of deity. These girls were thought with the classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam, odissi or kathak or any other classical dance form s They traditionally enjoyed a high status in society in society as music and dance were integral part of worship in temples. After india was invaded by Mughals and britishers many temples in india were broken down a