Bindi - A Spot of Beauty

A bindi in the colours of the Indian flag
(photo by Shankha Subhra Dutta)

BINDI

Noun. Plural bindis. Early 20th century.

[Hindi bindï.]

A decorative mark or jewel worn in the middle of the forehead by Indian women,

especially traditionally married Hindu women.

Despite it being a common sight in Britain, I must admit that I was pretty ignorant as to a bindi's significance until researching it for Lexicolatry. As a child, I remember talking to an Indian woman at a market and asking her with unashamed directness what the red dot on her forehead was for. Her answer, that it was a Hindu symbol of wisdom, is the explanation I've carried with me into adulthood.

"A Girl on the Ghats in Varanasi"
(photo by Lars-Gunnar Svärd)

However, it seems that the bindi has numerous meanings and applications. It might not be a red dot, for example, but could be a jewel or some other decoration for the forehead. Some of its religious connotations include representing 'the third eye', being a protection for both the wearer and her family and being a mark to honour a woman's intellect. Depending on the region, it is worn by married and unmarried women and can also be worn by men and children. To the wearer, it might have no religious significance at all, being purely decorative in nature, and as the influence of Indian art, music and fashion continues to spread, it's not uncommon to see Westerners donning a bindi for purely aesthetic reasons.

A woman from Raikhad
(photo by Meena Kadri)

If you wear or have worn a bindi, or have anything else you'd like to say, do please leave a comment below.