India, July 21 -- As a young girl growing up in a Newa household, Shreya Bajracharya was always drawn to the vibrant red colour painted on the toes and fingers of family members during important life and death rituals.

Over time, that curiosity grew into a desire to explore its possibilities beyond ritual use. Now 22, the art student has turned it into a medium for contemporary fabric art.

Locally known as ala, it is a red pigment made by mixing red powder with water, which, when applied to the skin and nails, leaves a lasting red stain. Red is an auspicious colour, and ala is applied to women's hands and feet during rituals such as ihi, gufa, and weddings.

During mourning rituals, a traditional manicurist and pedicurist known as a nau...