Rhiannon Hendricks
In Hinduism, the bindi is a bright dot of colour applied in the centre of the forehead, close to the eyebrows, or in the middle of the forehead. It is worn in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and by babies and children in China. In Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, the bindi is associated with the third eye. Traditionally, it is red or maroon in colour, but it is no longer restricted in colour or shape. In Hinduism, it is part of the Suhag or lucky trousseau at marriages and is affixed to the girl's forehead on her wedding day and thereafter always worn. Unmarried girls optionally wore small ornamental spangles on their foreheads. In Bollywood, Indian women wear the red bindi to indicate that they are married, akin to a wedding ring.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Traditional colour | Red or maroon |
| Application | A pinch of vermilion powder is applied with the ring finger to make a dot |
| Materials | Lac, sandal, "aguru", mica, "kasturi", kumkum (made of red turmeric), sindoor, saffron ground with "kusumba" flower |
| Regional variations | In Maharashtra, a large crescent moon-shaped bindi is worn with a smaller black dot |
| Cultural significance | Part of Bengali culture, worn by women in West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh |
| Religious significance | Associated with the ajna chakra and the third eye chakra in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism |
| Wedding significance | Worn by Indian brides as an indication of marriage, similar to a wedding ring |
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What You'll Learn
The bindi as a wedding ring in Hinduism
In Hinduism, the bindi is a bright dot of colour applied in the centre of the forehead, close to the eyebrows or in the middle of the forehead. It is worn in the Indian subcontinent, particularly among Hindus in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia among Hindus. The bindi is associated with the ajna chakra, and Bindu is known as the third eye chakra. Bindu is the point or dot around which the mandala is created, representing the universe.
The bindi is also associated with marriage. In Hinduism, it is part of the Suhag or lucky trousseau at marriages and is affixed to the bride's forehead on her wedding day. Thereafter, it is always worn. Unmarried girls could optionally wear small ornamental spangles on their foreheads, while widows were not allowed to wear bindis or any ornamentation associated with married women.
Traditionally, the bindi is red or maroon in colour. A pinch of vermilion powder is applied with the ring finger to make a dot. Various materials such as lac, sandal, "aguru", mica, "kasturi", kumkum (made of red turmeric), and sindoor colour the dot. Saffron ground together with "kusumba" flower can also be used. The bindi is no longer restricted in colour or shape.
In Maharashtra, a large crescent moon-shaped bindi is worn with a smaller black dot underneath or above, associated with Chandrabindu and Bindu chakra, and commonly known as Chandrakor. In Sindh, brides were applied many dots of "Tira" (moles) drawn upon their face and lips with needles dipped in antimony and other colouring matters. Bindi-like markings are also worn by babies and children in China and, as in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, represent the opening of the third eye.
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Bindi colours and their meanings
The bindi is a dot of colour applied to the centre of the forehead, worn in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with strong associations to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is also part of Bengali culture, where it is known as a "teep" or "tip". While the bindi is traditionally worn by women, men may also wear it during celebrations.
In most countries that still uphold the tradition, it is considered almost a sin for a woman not to wear a bindi after marriage. However, in modern times, the bindi has become a way for women of all ages to decorate their foreheads, without necessarily indicating that they are married.
The bindi comes in various colours, shapes, and forms. While red is the traditional colour, derived from saffron or turmeric, other colours are available today, including maroon, green, black, white, yellow, gold, brown, blue, purple, pink, and orange. The colour of teeps or bindis may also change depending on the occasion. For example, during Pohela Boishakh, people wear red and white teeps, while during Pohela Falgun, they wear green, orange, and yellow.
Different colours of the bindi have different meanings. According to Vedic traditions, red represents Raja/Rajanayan (warriors, military, police, and government administrators), white represents Brahmin (priests, teachers, and librarians), yellow or gold represents Vaiyasa (business people), and black, dark green, or brown represents Suddrah (farmers).
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Bindi shapes and their meanings
A bindi is a mark or sticker worn by Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist women and occasionally men on the forehead between the eyebrows. The bindi is placed in the region of the sixth chakra, ajna, the seat of "concealed wisdom". It is associated with concentration and wisdom and is also known as the "'third eye'".
The traditional bindi is red or maroon in colour, with a red dot in the middle. However, the bindi is no longer restricted in colour or shape. In Maharashtra, a large crescent moon-shaped bindi is worn with a smaller black dot underneath or above, associated with Chandrabindu and Bindu chakra. In the Bengal region, brides often wear a large round red bindi with an Alpana design on their forehead and cheeks. In southern India, a smaller red bindi is worn with a white tilak at the bottom, and in Rajasthan, the bindi is often round. Long tilak-shaped bindis are also common, as well as the crescent moon on some occasions.
The bindi's significance has evolved over time, and it holds various meanings across subcultures. In Hinduism, the colour red symbolises honour, love, and prosperity, so bindis are often worn to signify these qualities after marriage. In some cultures, a widow replaces her red bindi with a black one or a dash of white ash, or she stops wearing a bindi altogether.
In modern times, stick-on bindis come in different shapes and designs and are applied by both Muslims and Hindus. However, this practice is in decline as it is considered appropriate for Hindus only. In Sindh, brides were adorned with many dots of "Tira" (moles) drawn upon their face and lips with needles dipped in antimony and other colouring matters.
Bindis are also used for decorative purposes, and many people wear them to complement their clothing.
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The cultural significance of the bindi
The bindi is a bright dot of colour applied in the centre of the forehead, worn in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and parts of rural Sindh. In Hinduism, it is part of the Suhag or lucky trousseau at marriages and is affixed to the girl's forehead on her wedding day and thereafter always worn. It is considered a wedding ring of sorts. Unmarried girls may wear small ornamental spangles on their foreheads, while widows are forbidden from wearing a bindi.
The bindi is associated with the third eye and the ajna chakra in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The area between the eyebrows, where the bindi is placed, is said to be the sixth chakra, ajna, the seat of concealed wisdom. Traditionally, the bindi is red or maroon in colour, but it is no longer restricted in colour or shape.
In West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh, women irrespective of their religion, adorn themselves with teeps, which are similar to bindis. Depending on the occasion, the colours of the teep change. For instance, red and white are worn for Pohela Boishakh, and purple and pink for Eid Al Fitr.
In Sindh, when a child is born, black dots and lines are drawn on their faces. In the past, brides in Sindh had many dots, or 'Tira' (moles), drawn on their faces and lips with needles dipped in antimony and other colouring matters.
In modern times, self-adhesive bindis are available in various materials, usually made of felt or thin metal and adhesive on one side.
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The history of the bindi
The bindi is a mark or sticker worn by Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist women and occasionally men on the forehead between the eyebrows. The custom of wearing a bindi in South Asian countries dates back to the third and fourth centuries. The bindi is traditionally worn for religious purposes or to indicate that the wearer is married. In Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, the bindi is associated with the ajna chakra and is known as the third eye chakra. Bindu is the point or dot around which the mandala is created, representing the universe.
The bindi is said to help control the latent energy released through the ajna chakra during meditation. Also called the third eye, the ajna chakra sees the inner world just as physical eyes see the external world; the bindi helps its wearer access their inner wisdom and interpret matters in an unbiased, rational manner. The ajna is symbolised by a sacred lotus with two petals and corresponds to the colours violet, indigo, or deep blue, though it is traditionally described as white.
The bindi is traditionally red or maroon in colour. A pinch of vermilion powder is applied with the ring finger to make a dot. Various materials such as lac, sandal, "aguru", mica, "kasturi", kumkum (made of red turmeric), and sindoor are used to colour the dot. Saffron ground together with the "kusumba" flower can also be used. The bindi is no longer restricted in colour or shape.
In Hinduism, the bindi is part of the Suhag or lucky trousseau at marriages and is affixed to the girl's forehead on her wedding day and thereafter always worn. Unmarried girls could optionally wear small ornamental spangles on their foreheads, while widows were not allowed to wear bindis or any ornamentation associated with married women.
In modern times, self-adhesive bindis are available in various materials, usually made of felt or thin metal and adhesive on the other side. These are simple to apply, disposable substitutes for older lac tikli bindis. Sticker bindis come in many colours, designs, materials, and sizes. There are different regional variations of the bindi. In Maharashtra, for example, a large crescent moon-shaped bindi is worn with a smaller black dot underneath or above.
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Frequently asked questions
A bindi is a bright dot of colour applied in the centre of the forehead, close to the eyebrows, or in the middle of the forehead. It is worn in the Indian subcontinent, particularly among Hindus in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia among Hindus.
In Hinduism, the bindi is part of the Suhag or lucky trousseau at marriages and is affixed to the girl's forehead on her wedding day and thereafter always worn. The red bindi is an indication that a woman is married. As such, it is like a wedding ring.
Traditionally, a bindi is red or maroon in colour. A pinch of vermilion powder is applied with the ring finger to make a dot. Various materials such as lac, sandal, aguru, mica, kasturi, kumkum (made of red turmeric), and sindoor colour the dot. In modern times, self-adhesive bindis are available in various materials, usually made of felt or thin metal and adhesive on one side.
