This water colour painting depicts a devotee of the Dravidian Mother goddess, Mariamman bearing a fire pot on her head. She is also holding a damaru (drum) and dancing to the beat of the drummer. Both figures have bells tied to their feet and are dancing animatedly. The woman has painted her entire forehead with kumkum (vermillion powder) while her dressing is typical of the village folk of Tamil Nadu, South India. The devotee is clutching neem leaves (margosa tree) along with the drum. The worship of Mariamman is associated with mahamari, childhood diseases, which in the past could be fatal.
