How the bindi, dot on forehead of Indian women, became a fashion accessory for K-pop idols and other stars, and the young women reclaiming it as retro chic
- The practice of wearing a bindi is described in ancient Hindu texts, and can be used to determine a woman’s region, religion, community and marital status
- For many Indian women today, the bindi is an occasional fashion accessory, but young urban women have made wearing it cool again
The bindi is worn by everyone from Indian village women to Bollywood stars and international celebrities. It is both a fashion statement and a religious, cultural, and political symbol.
Placed in the middle of the forehead, it can be anything from a demure red dot to a jewelled ornament, and conveys a wealth of information about its wearer.
The word bindi comes from the Sanskrit word bindu or drop, and it denotes a woman’s mystic third eye. According to yoga experts, this mid-forehead point is the ajna chakra, the sixth and most powerful chakra in the body. Pressing on this point is said to conserve energy and increase concentration.
In the past, the materials used to make bindis included sandalwood ash, sandalwood paste, and turmeric-based kumkum (a type of powder). Observers could determine a Hindu woman’s region, religion, community and marital status from her forehead alone. Widows, in the past, could not wear bindis.