What Do Bindis Mean?

Bindis are available in ornate styles as well as in traditional shapes.

The bindi, or kumkum, is a small dot or marking that is customarily worn between the eyebrows. The bindi mark has multiple meanings and uses within the Hindu tradition.

Marriage

The traditional bindi is a round red dot worn by married Indian women as a symbol of their social status, similar to the western tradition of wedding bands. According to a 2005 New York Times article by Sadhna Shanker, traditional bindis were applied by smearing glue to the forehead and applying a red powder. Around the early 1990s bindis began to be marketed as red dots with adhesive backing.

Religion

The bindi is not only worn by women. The Hindu Universe website explains that this mark is used by monks as a symbol of self-sacrifice. Hindu devotees use the bindi as a tool to help them concentrate during meditation. A type of bindi mark called a tilak is worn by men on special occasions or religious holidays.

Fashion

The bindi is a popular fashion accessory. According to Shanker, Hindi language soap operas have fueled the purchase and wearing of bindis as part of daily fashion. Girls and women of all ages wear bindis in a wide variety of styles, colors and shapes.

References

• The Hindu Universe: FAQ: What Does The Red Dot On the Forehead Mean?
• I Love India: Bindi
• New York Times: Bindi Morphs Into Hip Accessory

Resources

• Pardesi Fashions: Bindi