Women, Temples, and Power Relations in Indian Ritual Performance: A Socio-Historical Reappraisal from Prehistory to Postcoloniality

Chadha, Pinky

doi:10.30465/shc.2025.52677.2640

Women, Temples, and Power Relations in Indian Ritual Performance: A Socio-Historical Reappraisal from Prehistory to Postcoloniality

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Author

pinky Chadha

Assistand Professor of Traditional Arts, Research Institute of Cultural Herutage and Tourism, Tehran, Iran,

https://doi.org/10.30465/shc.2025.52677.2640

Abstract

Ritual performances in India, some dating back to the 3rd century BC, embody not only ancient aesthetic traditions but also reflect the socio-cultural transformations of the subcontinent. This study investigates the socio-religious role of female ritual dancers, particularly the Devadasis, through a historical analysis from the origins of these traditions to post-independence India. The main question addresses how social, political, and religious structures have shaped the identity, status, and lived experiences of these women. The research traces their shifting roles from temple spaces to contemporary art platforms, highlighting the decisive influence of institutions such as temples, caste hierarchies, and colonial rule in the rise and decline of their positions. Methodologically, the study adopts a socio-historical approach, combining textual analysis with field observations and interviews conducted during the author's research visits to India. The findings suggest that the reconfiguration of women’s roles in ritual performance constitutes a site of intersecting negotiations between tradition, power, and cultural reconstruction in modern India.

Keywords

Devadasi

ritual performance

India

Hindu temples

female temple servants

Subjects