🙌🏻

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I can only hope I have been able to do justice to their art and dance in the book. If you would like to know more of their world through the medium of fiction, I hope you will give Dance of Shadows, a chance :)

The cultural apathy of the British led them to categorise all the Devadasis as pr*s*itutes and they outlawed the practice. Devadasis now had no means of survival. These women, who dedicated their lives to the arts, were reduced to beggars and night walkers in the 1880s, and soon became extinct.

-the power that temples held in society started to decline because of lack of patronage. This meant that devadasis now had restricted freedoms and their jobs weren't considered dignified. Yet, the true end of their livelihood came not with conquerors but with a company, the East India Company.

Only the priests had authority over them but since these women were considered incarnations of goddesses in the flesh and brought wealth, they weren't subjected to strict rules. They were trained in all 64 arts of the Nritya and were accomplished dancers and singers. But with Islamic invasions -

Devadasis were considered to be a mark of prosperity of a temple. They earned their living by performing in palaces for Maharajas and wealthy patrons. Independent in ways few women of their time could be, they had the agency to raise their children, living at the crossroads of power, art, and faith.

Thank you so much, David 🙏🏻

Full review: www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-sons-...