COURTING HINDUSTAN

In ancient India, women competed to win the title of Nagarvadhu, quite literally the town’s consort. For certain temple worship (Agamas), dance and music were necessary ingredients. The women artists dedicated to the worship— Devadasis and Maharis— had a high rank and dignity in society. Tawaifs were central to Mughal court culture from the sixteenth century. It is also believed that young heirs were sent to courtesans to learn ‘tameez’ and ‘tehzeeb’ , including the appreciation of good mus...