Gotipua, the Oriya etymon of which literally means 'Goti' = 'single' & 'Pua' = 'Boy'.As the name indicates this sacred dance is performed only by boys dressed up as girls.
The amazing history of this dance dates up to the time of Sriman Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Since many centuries as a customary practice in the Chandan Yatra festival of Puri, the Supreme Lord Sri Jagannath would always go out on processions along with His supreme devotee Lord Shiva in between the assembly of demigods.
And at that time, as a tradition, the Devadasis of the Sri Mandir would also come to dance before Lord Jagannath for His pleasure.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (who was Lord Jagannath himself assuming the form of His devotee) saw this, He desired them (the Devadasis) to dance in front of Lord Shiva as well, during the entire occasion, but unfortunately the priests objected to it. They objected because the Devadasis were females and by nature they could not maintain purity continually for a period of 21 days, especially since Lord Shiva was among those demigods.
Hence Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu as an alternative advised the King of Puri to bring in small boys for the purpose. He said "let the boys dance instead of girls, since boys were pure in all respects."
That was when, for the first time, the King of Puri ordered his subjects to set up gymnasiums for training Gotipuas (or small dancing boys).
Normally the Gotipuas dress up themselves as girls to sing and dance in the rhythm of ancient classical vaisnava music meant for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord Krishna. Their songs depict various stories from the great historical puranas of India as well as the Rasa leela pastimes of the Lord with the Gopis in Vrindavan.
