Eight years ago, when mehendi artist Sweta Dalal attended a zentangle workshop at the recommendation of a friend, she discovered an art form that had a relaxing effect. The style involves making structured shapes and patterns across paper u2018 tilesu2019. u201c When I would get engrossed in drawing the patterns, I was at complete peace. It was extremely fulfilling,u201d she says. The u2018 zenu2019 in Zentangle stands for a state of calm, while u2018 tangleu2019 refers to patterns.

The patterned tiles can be put together to form an aesthetic mosaic. Dalal says, due to its therapeutic effect, some psychologists have been recommending zentangle as a way to de- stress. u201c It increases attention span, too,u201d she says.