Nautch
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The nautch was a popular court dance performed by girls in later Mughal and colonial India. The word "nautch" was a British corruption of "Nach", the Bengali word for dancing. In the early part of the
Nautch dancers in Old Delhi, c. 1874
Nautch dancer in Calcutta, c. 1900
A Raja awaits the arrival of Nautch dancers
A Nautch girl performing, 1862
Devadasi
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A devadasi is a woman dedicated to the worship of a temple's patron god. The dedication takes place in a ceremony that is somewhat similar to a marriage ceremony. They have been variously described as
Nautch
…prostitution, as local mistresses for the British were replaced with wives from Britain. Some references use the terms nautch and nautch girls to describe Devadasis who used to perform ritual and religious dances in the Hindu temples of India. However, there is not much similarity between the devadasis and the…
Devadasi named Gnyana of Tanjore, 19th century
Vellayi Gopuram in Srirangam; one of the temple gateways named after devadasi Vellayi in 14th century.