In modern times, girls who dance in social gatherings are termed as bar girls. Do you know these have been mentioned in the history of our country ever since 15th century. Earlier the gatherings used to be musical, known as ‘Khadi Mehfil’, and these females were called dance girls. The guests here used to be the kings, nobles and British authorities.

KK Rastogi of Gwalior Sangeet Gharana has a rare collection of photographs of these dance girls. According to him, Indian Hindus, Mughals and the British rulers were fond of these dance girls.

These girls later came to be knows as escorts/prostitutes in the 19th century. Sitting or talking to them apart from the gathering, came to become a taboo. This culture continues even today.