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Women competed to win the title of a Nagarvadhu, and it was not a taboo.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001224/spectrum/main1.htm Spectrum lead article, ''The Sunday Tribune'', 24 Dec 2000]</ref> The most beautiful and talented (in various [[Indian classical dance|dance forms]]) woman was chosen as the Nagarvadhu. | Women competed to win the title of a Nagarvadhu, and it was not a taboo.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001224/spectrum/main1.htm Spectrum lead article, ''The Sunday Tribune'', 24 Dec 2000]</ref> The most beautiful and talented (in various [[Indian classical dance|dance forms]]) woman was chosen as the Nagarvadhu. | ||
A Nagarvadhu was respected | A Nagarvadhu was respected, but she was a [[courtesan]]; people could watch her dance and sing.<ref name="uni-sofia">{{cite web|url=http://www.phys.uni-sofia.bg/~viktor/wisdom/osho/marriage.html|title=~viktor/wisdom/osho/marriage|publisher=phys.uni-sofia.bg|accessdate=2014-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311235716/http://www.phys.uni-sofia.bg/~viktor/wisdom/osho/marriage.html|archive-date=2018-03-11|url-status=dead|df=}}</ref> A Nagarvadhu's price for a single night's dance was very high, and she was only within the reach of the very rich – the king, the princes, and the [[lord]]s. | ||
==Famous Nagarvadhus== | ==Famous Nagarvadhus== | ||
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{{India-culture-stub}} | {{India-culture-stub}} | ||
Revision as of 23:11, 1 September 2021

Nagarvadhu or Nagar Vadhu (Devanagari: नगरवधू) ("bride of the city") was a tradition followed in some parts of ancient India.
Women competed to win the title of a Nagarvadhu, and it was not a taboo.[1] The most beautiful and talented (in various dance forms) woman was chosen as the Nagarvadhu.
A Nagarvadhu was respected, but she was a courtesan; people could watch her dance and sing.[2] A Nagarvadhu's price for a single night's dance was very high, and she was only within the reach of the very rich – the king, the princes, and the lords.
Famous Nagarvadhus
- Amrapali, state courtesan and Buddhist disciple, described in Vaishali Ki Nagarvadhu by Acharya Chatursen
- Vasantasena, a character in the classic Sanskrit story of Mricchakatika, written in the 2nd century BC by Śūdraka
- Madhavi, a character in the classic Tamil story of Silappatikaram, written in the by Ilango Adigal
See also
- Devadasi
- Deuki
- Ca trù, a similar profession in Vietnam
- Geisha, a similar profession in Japan
- Kisaeng, a similar profession in Korea
- Tawaif, a similar profession in India
- Yiji, a similar profession in China
References
- ↑ Spectrum lead article, The Sunday Tribune, 24 Dec 2000
- ↑ "~viktor/wisdom/osho/marriage". phys.uni-sofia.bg. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2014.