Prince Radjami, heir to the throne of Lahore, lives the life of carefree Europeans in Paris. According to the laws of his country he must soon marry and occupy the throne of his ancestors. But he has fallen in love with Odette, the celebrated Parisian artist, who is playing the leading role in a variety hall in The Bayadère, an operetta with an Indian theme. The story is set in a prince’s palace, in an "Indian setting". The "mystic" environment of the stage helps the prince to win Odette.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsuSqHBfBIU

Who are the Bayadères? Indian temple dancers and singers. They belong to the gods and show their devotion to them with dance, song and other services. The order of Bayadères admits only girls who are still in their childhood and whose parents entirely renounce them in favour of the temple. The Bayadère is not required to preserve her virginity; she can form a relationship with a man who is not from a lower class. The children of Bayadères are educated by the priests: the boys become temple musicians and the girls temple servants. The Bayadères join up in groups and travel around the country under the supervision of an elder woman leader (daja).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsuSqHBfBIU