temple dancers
Shrine ritual entertainers
Temple dancers are performers, typically women, who dance as part of religious worship or ceremony at Hindu, Buddhist, or other Asian temples.
The tradition is ancient, with dancers serving as ritual artists dedicated to a deity.
In India, the devadasi tradition linked such dancers to temples, though the practice declined under colonial-era laws.
The temple dancers performed during the evening puja.
The term sometimes carries connotations of sacred prostitution, though this oversimplifies complex historical realities.
- apsaraDivine dancer of heaven
- sacredWorthy of reverence
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- flower offeringsBlooms presented as gifts
- offeringsThings presented or given
bells · anklets · mudra · silk · silk sari · incense · shrine · goddess · goddess worship · prayer · celestial · courtesan · garland · jasmine · drums · devotion · swaying · veils
- ancient sexualityfertility rites, fertility cults, sacred marriage, sex magic, erotic art
- sexual customssexual norms, sexual taboos, marriage customs, courtship, virginity
- tribal peopletribespeople, tribesman, clan member, clan leaders, clan elders
temple dancersshowgirls
Female stage entertainers
go-go dancers · exotic dancers · chorus girls · backup dancers · street performers
temple dancersstreet performers
Artists entertaining passersby outdoors
temple, temples, dancer, dancers, dance, dances, danced, dancing