India's Devadasi System
A young man discusses a price with Devadasi, Yellawwa Harjn (far left) in a brothel in Gokak, India. Center is Kasshwah Kalburgi, the brothel owner, and three of her grandchildren. Behind Kalburgi, a man enters the corridor that leads to the brothel rooms. Kalburgi's brothel employs 11 women and has approximately 30-40 male patrons per day. Each sexual transaction costs about 50 rupees (just over $1). Women over the age of 35 earn slightly less and all of the women give 50% of their earnings to Kalburgi. The majority of men are agricultural workers who come to the Gokak to sell their produce and then visit the brothel afterwards.
