Devadasis? Padams: From Temples to the Concert Stage

Abstract

Abstract

Devadasis were dancing women who served in temples. These women were skilled in singing and dancing and padams were an integral part of their repertory. These padams seem to have their roots and origin in the South Indian Bhakti poetry. Devadasis initially used to perform in the temples but the Indian nationalists and English colonialists began to question their presence in the Indian social and cultural scenario. Consequently, they lost their position as trained artists and were seen as nothing more than prostitutes and with their downfall, their art forms were threatened too. Fortunately, these art forms were revived, transformed and moved from temples to the concert stage.