 During Mughal rule in the subcontinent, in places such as Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, the tradition of performing mujra was a family art and often passed down from mother to daughter.These coutesans or tawaifs had some power and prestige due to their access to the elite class and some of them came to be known as authorities on culture.Some noble families would send their sons to them to learn etiquette (tehzeeb) and the art of conversation from them.