The Divine Dancers
The Mahari or Devadasi tradition was a central part of the ritualistic services (Sevas) in the Shree Mandira for centuries. The Maharis were women ritually married to Lord Jagannath, dedicating their entire lives to singing and dancing for His pleasure.
The Service
Their dance was not meant for public entertainment. It took place inside the Nata Mandapa (Dancing Hall) or near the Lord's bedchamber (Kalahat Dwara) as an intimate offering.
"The Mahari's dance was considered a form of visual prayer - a complete physical and spiritual offering to the Lord."
They specifically performed the sensual and deeply devotional verses of Jayadeva's Gita Govinda. Though the tradition has faded into history with the passing of the last Mahari, its legacy gave birth to the classical Indian dance form known today as Odissi. The spirit of the Mahari lives on in the delicate mudras and expressions of modern Odissi dancers.