Indian Accessories

Bindi or a red holy dot traditionally is worn by an Indian Hindu woman on the forehead between the two eyebrows in the belief that Bindi will protect her and her husband. It is believed that

bindi on that spot opens her spiritual third eye. Another version is that the most important chakra is present between the eye brows and the bindi will prevent the loss of energy through that point. Also bindi has a connection with Yoga and Ayurvedic principles.

Bindu is a term derived from the Sanskrit word bindu meaning a dot. The traditional color of bindi is red and it is made with vermilion/ tikka powder. Married women in North India used to wear bindi as a small red dot on their forehead. Red color was believed to bring all the fortune to the bride and her family. The family’s welfare and honor were preserved by the red bindi of the bride. In due course bindi evolved into a fashion accessory and attained various shapes and colors. Girls of all age groups began to wear bindi of different colors and styles. Today the color and shape of the bindi match with the outfit worn by a person. Now bindi has become an indispensable item with saris, salwar suit, lehenga and any other Indian costumes.

Belly dancers use bindi as a beautiful accessory and bindi has an important place in ethnic dance costume and body art. Today bindi is considered as a decorative item and even unmarried and non-Hindu women in India, Bangladesh and other countries of South Asia wear this little gem. Presently, self adhesive bindi known as stickers made of felt or thin metal are available with adhesive on one side. These are simple to apply, disposable substitutes for older tilak bindis. Sticker bindis come in many colors, designs, materials, and sizes. Fancy sticker bindis may be decorated with sequins, glass beads, or rhinestones for extra dazzle.