They were temple dancers dedicated to religious service. Devadasis in Southern India, Tevadichhis in Maharashtra and Maharis in Odisha performed sacred rituals through dance, preserving devotional traditions and enhancing temple worship with expressive movements and mythological storytelling.
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Devadasis, Tevadichhis and Maharis were temple dancers who played an important role in religious traditions. Devadasis in Southern India dedicated their lives to temple service, performing Bharatanatyam. Tevadichhis in Maharashtra contributed to religious storytelling, while Maharis in Odisha performed in honor of Lord Jagannatha. Their dances were deeply spiritual, blending devotion and artistic expression. Over time, their roles changed, but their contributions to preserving classical dance as a form of worship remain significant.