Devadasis

Devadasis are women in India historically dedicated to temple worship through a ritual called "devadasi," where they perform sacred dances and serve as temple attendants. Originally, this role was seen as a respected spiritual service, often involving lifelong devotion. Over time, social changes and misuse of the tradition led to the exploitation and stigmatization of devadasis, many of whom faced discrimination and hardship. Today, efforts are ongoing to restore their dignity, address related social issues, and differentiate traditional cultural practices from practices rooted in exploitation.