text: Odisha The 1956 Orissa Gazette references Devadasis dances. They had two daily rituals. The Bahara Gaaunis would dance at the Sakaala Dhupa. After breakfast Lord Jagannatha would give Darshana to the bhaktas (the devotees). In the main hall, a Devadasi, accompanied by musicians and the Rajaguru (the court guru), would dance standing near the Garuda stambha (pillar). They would perform only pure dance, and could be watched by the audience. The Bhitara Gaunis would sing at the Badashinghara, the main ceremony for ornamenting and dressing the God. At bedtime, Lord Jagannatha would first be served by male Sebayatas, who would fan him and decorate him with flowers. After they left, a Bhitara Gaauni would then enter the room, stand near the door (Jaya Vijaya), sing Gita Govinda songs, and perhaps perform a ritualistic dance. Later she would come out and announce that the Lord has gone to sleep and the guard would close the main gate.
  Social status
  A Devadasi was believed to be immune from widowhood and was called akhanda saubhagyavati ("woman who never separated from good fortune"). Since she was wedded to a divine deity, she was supposed to be one of the especially welcome guests at weddings and was regarded as a bearer of good fortune. At weddings, people would receive a string of the tali (wedding lock) prepared by her, threaded with a few beads from her own necklace. The presence of a Devadasi on any religious occasion in the house of a dvija member was regarded as sacred and she was treated with due respect, and was presented with gifts.
  Notable members from the Devadasi community
  Bangalore Nagarathnamma
  Padma Vibhushan dancer Balasaraswati
  Veenai Dhanammal, a carnatic vocalist and a performer on the Saraswati veena.
  Thanjavur Brinda and her sister Thanjavur Muktha, carnatic vocalists
  M.S. Subbulakshmi
  Mylapore Gowri Ammal
  Muddupalani, author of Rādhikā-sāntvanam
  Sasimani Debi
  Muthulakshmi Reddy
  Moovalur Ramamirtham
  M. L. Vasanthakumari