The Bombay Dancing Girls, 1900 Postcard
A 1900 postcard of the Bombay (now Mumbai) dancing girls. One of the best entertainments for Indians and British were the dancing girls or nautch girls. Since entertainment was limited at that time there were no movies, TV, and so on. Nautch girls, drama, and perhaps games were the best enjoyment.
The performance like the Bombay dance girls was once revered as a wholesome entertaining art. The girls were much respected and earned a decent salary. Even Raja Ravi Varma and the top echelons of Indian and British were keen patrons at the time. But in all likelihood, due to the advent of cinema, the nautch entertainment lost its shine and was regarded as cheap entertainment. Today it is almost unheard of, maybe with the exception of small pockets. Especially in Northern India where it may still be played at weddings and other functions.
Read more The Nautch Girls: India’s Forgotten Dancers.
Did you know – when the Prince of Wales Edward toured India in 1875-76, he was feted at a nautch party.
Past posts – Raja Ravi Varma’s Balamani – Old Postcard 1902., The New Taj Mahal Palace Hotel Bombay, 1903 Photo., Reception To The Prince of Wales Mumbai – Old Print 1905., Vintage Map Phases of Fort St George Chennai.
The images are of the actual items from my collection. And Not a photocopy, pirated, reproduced, stock photos, or taken from other sources.
