Siesta hour at Dakhsin Chitra.

 

At Dakshin Chitra, Chennai these ladies seemed to be killing time post lunch. Slowly I could close in and get on top of the ledge and look down through my viewfinder. They were steeped in chirpy discussion and scribbling Kolam patterns with chalk on the terracota tiles. Exchanging and experimenting new designs from each other was their way of killing time I learned.
Like many a custom Kolam also subtly combines culture, tantra, mathematics, art, faith, worship and lifestyle into this South Indian custom for ages. Mathematics, as they draw around the various sets of dots placed methodically.

Though employed as sweepers, their design sensibilities clearly had a bearing on their work environments too.

When I asked them to "look up" from their ground realities, coyly they obliged.