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 mu...