The outer walls of many temples in the Bengal region use an abundance of terra cotta panels themed on Hindu gods and stories. This is a tradition particular to this region, where stone materials are scarce. There was one such temple in the Santhal village near Santiniketan, where Akino lived, and the rounded elegant shapes of the buildings and corridors are unique to the region. The black dog depicted by the roadside gives the scene life, and this became one of Akino's favorite motifs.