Bindi and Belief

When you are an Indian and a Hindu, you can’t be exempted from wearing a bindi. In northern parts of the country, married women wear this while in south maidens also wear ‘thilak’ as they call.

The area between the eyebrows (where the bindi is placed) is said to be the sixth chakra, the seat of "concealed wisdom". According to followers of Hinduism, this chakra is the exit point for kundalini energy. The bindi is said to retain energy and strengthen concentration. It is also said to protect against demons or bad luck.

An example of bindi itself can draw a picture of how beliefs, culture and costumes are mixed up in the nation. There are people who stamp those females without bindis as rebels. They say introducing a fashion of small bindis and thus uprooting it gradually is a new policy of Anti-Indians. Also you are supposed to wear red bindis. Black bindis are believed to be bad.

Bindis may increase the beauty of a woman. It may also have scientific benefits. But after all, it can be categorized only as a costume or an ornament. When the world is moving into a global village status, it’s an individual to decide whether a bindi has to be worn or not. Following a culture is not bad, but imposing it on a person is not praiseworthy. And the so called Indian spirit cannot be just shown out by putting a bindi on forehead. It is the willingness and respect to accept all traditions that makes us unique.