Devadasi

Bhimavva Chalwadi, a resident of Vasco, Goa, was forced into sex work at the age of 15 but has since worked for the rescue and rehabilitation of child sex workers, for which she won the CII Woman Exemplar Award in 2019.

Despite being discouraged from studying for being a ‘devadasi’s child’, 17-year-old Kashinath has steadily pursued his education. Now aspiring to become a teacher, this is his story of determination, perseverance, and steadfast belief.

Kashava was made a devadasi when she was just a six-year-old child. After struggling with numerous challenges that life gave her, she has finally emerged a victor. Kashava now works for an NGO which helps devadasis.

Yallava Matangi's grandfather threw her into the flesh trade because of a senseless superstition. But Yallava is living peacefully now in village Nidasusi in Karnataka. She forgives everyone who made her a devadasi. This is Yallava's story, in her own words.

A resident of Athani, Karnataka, 40-year-old Chanda Maigur’s story sounds almost like a fairy tale. Chanda was a devadasi who fell in love with Sunil and lived happily ever after.

A devadasi recounts her journey from suffering horrifying sexual abuse as a teen to becoming independent and raising her two daughters with quality education.