Henna is an art. The henna artist draws loops and swirls across hands, fingers, feet, lets the pattern dry and rubs it off, leaving a design stained into the skin. For Iffat Ara, henna is not just her ...

It’s 2008. I’m ten years old. I have a henna cone in my hand and I’m not afraid to use it. I squeeze unrecognisable flowers onto the women, and I paint wonky footballs and messy rockets onto the boys.