“Girls At Dhabas” is a movement to reclaim public spaces for women.

When Karachi-based dhaba-frequenter Sadia Khatri posted a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #girlsatdhabas, someone suggested she start a series.

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She with her friend Sabahat Zakariya started a Tumblr called "girlsatdhabas" where they curate photo submissions sent in by Desi women who, like them, love to hit the dhaba for hot chai served in questionably washed cups.

A dhaba is a roadside food and tea stall.

Girls At Dhabas / Via girlsatdhabas.tumblr.com

Soon, women from different parts of South Asia began sending in their selfies by direct submission, or by hashtagging them #girlsatdhabas on Twitter and Instagram.

Khatri's motivation to start the hashtag was to reclaim dhabas as a safe space for women. Like several other public spaces, they are typically frequented by men or by women accompanied by men.

"The idea was to reappear on the streets. Access to public spaces is restricted by class and gender primarily. Dhabas are just one place," Khatri told BuzzFeed in an email.

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