Devadasi
Devadasi is a Sanskrit word that means "servant of God" or "female servant of God." Devadasis are women who are dedicated to the temple and serve God through dance and music.
It all started a long time ago in India, where people believed that having a devadasi in a temple was a good thing. Families would dedicate their daughters to the temple when they were very young, usually around six years old. The devadasis would then learn how to dance and sing, which was seen as a way of serving God.
Back then, the devadasis were treated with respect and were often thought of as spiritual guides. People would visit the temple to see them perform and seek their blessings.
However, over time, things changed. Devadasis were often exploited and forced into prostitution, and their social status declined. This practice was banned in India in 1988, and it is now illegal to dedicate a girl to the temple as a devadasi.
Today, the term devadasi is still used, but it is usually in reference to this historical practice. Modern-day female performers of classical Indian dance are not usually referred to as devadasis, as the term is now considered derogatory.
It all started a long time ago in India, where people believed that having a devadasi in a temple was a good thing. Families would dedicate their daughters to the temple when they were very young, usually around six years old. The devadasis would then learn how to dance and sing, which was seen as a way of serving God.
Back then, the devadasis were treated with respect and were often thought of as spiritual guides. People would visit the temple to see them perform and seek their blessings.
However, over time, things changed. Devadasis were often exploited and forced into prostitution, and their social status declined. This practice was banned in India in 1988, and it is now illegal to dedicate a girl to the temple as a devadasi.
Today, the term devadasi is still used, but it is usually in reference to this historical practice. Modern-day female performers of classical Indian dance are not usually referred to as devadasis, as the term is now considered derogatory.
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