Celebrating Culture with Food and Henna
- Tina Tsou
- Oct 19, 2025
- 2 min read
Recently I had the chance to enjoy an afternoon of amazing food and art at a local South Asian café. The cozy restaurant had bright orange booths and intricate wooden designs on the walls. I ordered a giant dosa, a thin, crispy lentil rice crêpe, that arrived on a wooden platter almost as wide as my shoulders! The dosa was light and crunchy with a savory potato filling, perfect for sharing. The café’s warm ambience and colorful décor made the meal feel like a mini celebration.
The Art of Henna
After lunch I visited a henna (mehndi) artist who was offering beautiful temporary body art. I’ve always admired the detailed patterns created with henna paste, and this was my chance to try it. The artist used a small cone filled with henna paste and free‑handed an intricate mandala on the back of my hand. The paste felt cool on my skin and she worked with incredible precision. Watching the design form under her steady hand was mesmerizing.
Once the design was complete, she sprinkled a little glitter over the still wet paste to add sparkle. The finished mandala looked like lace, with tiny dots and floral motifs extending up my fingers. After a few hours the paste would dry and flake off, leaving a rich reddish brown stain that lasts for several days.
Close up of the finished henna mandala desgin decorated with glitter
Hanna srtist sign displaying Aparna’s Hanna Art with phone number.
Final Thoughts
Reflecting on the experience, I was struck by how intimately food and art are intertwined in South Asian culture. The dosa’s bold flavors and the henna’s intricate patterns both tell stories of heritage and hospitality. Enjoying them together turned an ordinary afternoon into a celebration of creativity and connection. I left feeling grateful for the way food and art can bring people together and open a window into another culture.
Have a good Diwali!
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