Nitya Sumangali The Eternal Wife @ The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), Jalan Strachan, Off Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur

A few centuries ago in some parts of India, a practice developed under which a few women were made wives of god and named Devadasis. The marriage usually occurred before the girls reached puberty. These wives of God lived in or around the temples and performed various duties. The Devadasis were also a community of artists, presenting dance and music performances becoming an integral part of many large Hindu temples.

Due to circumstances, these dancing girls became women of pleasure and were forced into flesh trade, being subjected to untold misery.

Set in an old temple of Shiva, this period dance drama tells the story of a Devadasi named Kalyani whom falls victim to a cruel fate as an eternal wife of God, following tradition-even in death.

Nitya Sumangali challenges creativity on every front – from choreography to costume, set design to sound and light and features the deconstruction of classical and contemporary dances.