Indian courtesans

In India, a devadasi is a female artist who is dedicated to the worship and service of a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. The dedication takes place in a ceremony that is somewhat similar to a marriage ceremony. In addition to taking care of the temple and performing rituals, these women also learn and practice classical Indian dances such as Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi. Their status as dancers, musicians, and consorts was an essential part of temple worship.

Empress of Awadh

Indian singer (1913-2009)

Āmrapālī, also known as "Ambapālika", "Ambapali", or "Amra" was a celebrated nagarvadhu (royal courtesan) of the Republic of Vaishali (located in present-day Bihar) in ancient India around 500 BC. Amrapali also won the title of rajnartaki (court dancer). Following the Buddha's teachings, she became an arahant. She is mentioned in the old Pali texts and Buddhist traditions (āgama sutras), particularly in conjunction with the Buddha staying at her mango grove, Ambapali vana, which she later donated to his order and wherein he preached the famous Ambapalika Sutra.

Indian musician

ruler of Sardhana, Meerut (c. 1753–1836)

Tanjore Balasaraswati, also known as Balasaraswati (13 May 1918 – 9 February 1984), was an Indian dancer, and her rendering of Bharatanatyam, a classical dance style originated in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, made this style of dancing well known in different parts of India and many parts of the world.

thumb|Depiction of Prince Salim and Anarkali, 1940 Anarkali () is a legendary lady said to be loved by the 16th-century Mughal Prince Salim, who later became Emperor Jahangir. According to some accounts, Anarkali was the nickname of the courtesan (tawaif) Mehr-un-Nisa, though scholars hold varying opinions.

poet

Indian actress and director

Pakistani singer

Indian actress

Indian singer and dancer (1873-1930)

Kanhopatra (or Kanhupatra) was a 15th-century Marathi saint-poet, venerated by the Varkari sect of Hinduism.

Indian singer (1883-1974)

Indian singer

Indian Thumri Singer

Indian singer (1925-2004)

Empress Consort of India (-1765)

right|thumb|Tawaif Mah Laqa Bai singing poetry A tawaif () was a highly successful courtesan singer‚ dancer‚ and poet who catered to the nobility of the Indian subcontinent, particularly during the Mughal era. With fewer opportunities available during the British Raj, many tawaifs (known as "nautch girls" to the British) transitioned into prostitution.

Jaddanbai (1 April 1892 – 8 April 1949) was an Indian singer, music composer, dancer, actress, filmmaker, and one of the pioneers of Indian cinema. She along with Bibbo and Saraswati Devi were one of the first female music composers in Indian cinema. She was the mother of actor Anwar Hussain and the well-known Hindi film actress Nargis, and the maternal grandmother of Priya Dutt and Sanjay Dutt.

16th century Kashmiri poet-empress

Indian singer (1892–1977)

Indian singer

Mughal queen consort

Indian singer (1902–1974)

thumb|A mural from the Ajanta Caves depicting a dancer. Nagarvadhu (also Nagaravadhu or Nagar Vadhu; Devanagari: नगरवधू; ) was a tradition followed in some parts of ancient India.

Indian singer

mother of actress Shobhna Samarth

Indian singer

thumb|303x303px|Contemporary depiction of an 18th century Devadasi Muddupalani () was a Telugu speaking poet and devadasi attached to the court of Pratap Singh (1739–63), the Maratha king of Tanjore. Some commentators date her life to 1739-90, and her place of birth as Nagavasram in Thanjavur district. She is noted as a poet and scholar and particularly for her erotic epic Rādhikā-sāntvanam ("Appeasing Radha").

Pakistani classical, ghazal singer and actress

1899 Urdu novel by Mirza Hadi Ruswa

right|thumb|Tawaif Mah Laqa Bai dancing in court Mujra is a dance performance that emerged during Mughal emperor in Indian subcontinent, where the elite class and local rulers like the nawabs (often connected to the Mughal emperor's court) used to frequent tawaifs (courtesans) for entertainment.

Indian singer (1904–2001)

Indian queen

thumb|300px|Wedding procession of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah with Bhagmati. Bhagamati (Hyder Mahal), also known as Bhagyawati, was a queen of Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, in whose honour Hyderabad was supposedly named. The historicity of her existence is debated among scholars.

Jahanara Kajjan (15 February 1915 – 20 December 1945), or "Miss Kajjan", was an Indian singer and actress active during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, often referred to as the "Nightingale of Bengal". The reigning queen of early talkie films, glamorous movie sensation, the trained classical singer, the fashion icon and the trendsetter, she was known as "Lark of Hindi Cinema", "The Lark of India" and the "Beautiful Nightingale of Bengal Screen". She along with Master Nissar made most sought after and popular singing pair of the stage and film. She was a popular star of silent films.

building in India

thumb|Nautch dancers in Old Delhi, c. 1874 thumb|Nautch dancer in Calcutta, c. 1900 thumb|A Raja awaits the arrival of Nautch dancers thumb|A Nautch girl performing, 1862

Indian singer

Zohrabai Agrewali (1868–1913), also known mononymously as Zohrabai, was one of the most noted and influential singers of Hindustani Classical Music from the early 1900s. Along with Gauhar Jan, she marks the dying phase of the tawaif singing tradition in Indian classical music. Known for her masculine style of singing, she recorded several songs for the Gramophone Company of India.

Punjabi poet

Indubala (1898 – 30 November 1984), sometimes credited as Miss Indubala, Indubālā Debī, or Indubala Devi, was a Bengali singer and actress. She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1975.

fictional character

ancient Indian figure

Indian singer

Pakistani singer

Bharatanatyam Dancer, Dance Teacher

Vasantasena is a fictional character and the protagonist of the iconic Sanskrit play Mṛichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart) written by Śūdraka.

female disciple of Nund Rishi (Kashmir)