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Newsweek
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Neighbor Intrigued by Woman's Mysterious Artwork on Doorway: 'What Is It?'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A post about intricate floral chalk drawings outside a neighbor's doorway has gone viral on social media. Shared by Reddit user u/capnricky, the post has garnered over 15,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments since it was uploaded on July 9 in the r/whatisit subreddit. The post, titled "My neighbor has been doing this at her doorway once a week for the past few weeks. It's beautiful, but what is it?", includes photographs of distinct symmetrical patterns drawn on the ground outside a doorway. The chalk or powder drawings change weekly, each featuring elaborate designs resembling flowers and other natural motifs. The caption says that the Reddit user sees a new design each morning and has made a habit of photographing them, planning to compile the images into a photo album for their neighbor. "I don't want to culturally offend," the user wrote, adding: "It's really pretty, and I do my best to keep my 5 yo [year old] twins away from it." Other Reddit users in the comments quickly identified the mysterious artwork as kolam, a traditional South Indian art form that dates back generations. A pinned comment by user u/Cheekbish read: "It's actually called a Kolam—an art form from the southern part of India and drawn on the ground using rice powder or chalk. It's said to bring good luck, positivity, and prosperity." Kolam is a folk tradition deeply rooted in Tamil Nadu. An October 2023 article in IRE Journals describes it as an intergenerational practice based on geometric symmetry and creative interpretation. The artist draws with chalk or charcoal, beginning with a grid of dots known as pulli, which are then connected by looping or straight lines to form complex, symmetrical patterns. The article says, "The artist uses his imagination to create an image that represents what he wants to draw," often coloring the design using natural pigments or watercolor paints. Kolam is more than decorative—it holds daily and spiritual significance in Tamil culture. The Indian nonprofit Sahapedia outlines the practice as a "daily women's ritualistic art form created by Tamil Hindu women throughout Tamil Nadu in southeastern India." The designs are typically drawn at dawn and sometimes again at dusk, especially during Brahma muhurta, a period believed to be auspicious for spiritual activity. "Each day before dawn … millions of women in the towns, villages, and cities of Tamil Nadu (and Pondicherry) draw kōlam on the thresholds and floors of houses, temples, and businesses," Sahapedia notes. "In Tamil culture, the threshold is of great significance as the meeting point of the internal and the external." These "threshold designs," Sahapedia adds, symbolize beauty, divinity, and good fortune. Traditionally, they are drawn with finely ground rice powder, though chalk or stone powder is often mixed in for durability and cost-saving. The technique requires precise control and rhythm, as the powder is carefully released between the fingers in a continuous flow. The result is a transient artwork, often swept away and redrawn daily, in keeping with its ritual nature. 'Amazing' Reddit users applauded the unique artwork and the original poster's respectful curiosity. U/estcaroauteminfirma posted, "Amazing is what it is," and u/Official_Business_ wrote: "They're beautiful." U/Infiniscroll commented: "I love this form of art. It shows the shape of the mind in some intriguing ways. They are also very mathematical!" U/Nice_Marketing_9252 noted: "So if OP [the original poster] takes pictures every day and makes album like he/she says, then Kolam will actually work because it will already bring positivity. Maybe others will follow." U/PresidentMeeseeks added: "It's so thoughtful of you to want to give her an album of her Kolam patterns! I'm a South Indian living abroad and it's gestures like these that encourage us to integrate with our new communities. Also, look out for her designs on festival dates. Those would be even more elaborate and pretty." Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system. Stock image: A woman creates a kolam drawing on the ground. Stock image: A woman creates a kolam drawing on the ground. Getty Do you have a culture or art-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Indian Express
26-04-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Hidden Stories: How an orthodox Brahmin man is remembered through Pune church named after him
Situated in Kasba Peth, Deshpande Church is unique in Pune — not only because prayers are conducted in Marathi, but also because it carries a Marathi name, which is rare among Protestant churches in the city. Significantly, the church is a part of the Pune Municipal Corporation's Heritage List. It also used to be a church where the service was conducted in Korean (This ended in 2015, due to a lack of Korean devotees). The church is named after Prahlad Ramchandra Deshpande, a Brahmin man who belonged to an orthodox family in Nagpur. After the death of his parents, Deshpande was raised by his aunt in a deeply religious household. He came to Pune from Nagpur between 1935 and 1940. 'Brother Deshpande was a man of great faith. His journey into Christianity began during his college years when his curiosity about the religion led him to study the Bible. Along with his wife, he converted to Christianity and later became a priest at Christ Church in Rasta Peth in 1917,' said Sunil Bhandari, a church secretary who is 64 years old. According to 'Sahapedia', which has researched Deshpande Church, 'When Deshpande arrived in Pune, few of the locals followed Christianity. He worked towards bridging the gap between orthodox Hindus and Christians, focusing particularly on the treatment of missionaries and converts among Hindus. Deshpande's work helped Christian missionaries gain recognition and acceptance among Brahmins and other Hindu communities. Over time, his affectionate demeanour earned him the suffix 'Brother'.' Christianity in Pune has roots dating back to the 18th century, during the Peshwa era, when the first churches were built in Rasta Peth. 'By the 19th century, the Christian population, included British settlers, Tamils, Keralites, Portuguese, and Goans,' said priest Wilson Pandit, who has been associated with the church for 25 years. Deshpande worked assiduously, and his sermons, especially, drew many attendees. After his death on June 25, 1949, Deshpande's home, which came to be referred to as Deshpande Math, transformed into a sanctuary for the poor and needy. 'Brother Deshpande's dedication to spreading Christianity left a deep impact on the local community,' said Bhandari. A decade after Deshpande's passing, the local community decided to establish a church in his honour. 'In 1967, the Brother Deshpande Memorial Church was established on land provided by the Scottish Missionary School,' Bhandari noted. The building is more than 130 years old and in Gothic style. The prayers, conducted in Marathi, continue the vision of Deshpande of making the faith accessible to the local population.
