Bindi: A fashion statement or a wedlock symbol?

Bindi, although originated as a facial adornment on the forehead, yet it has become a mandatory practice for the women in India to wear it as heir wedlock symbol. A red dot on the forehead of a woman not only signifies her marital status, but also guarantees her sanctity and a position in the society. 

Be it men, women or vamps on television screens, a mark on the centre of their forehead has always remained a predominant factor of Indian facial adornment. Using the forehead as a canvas, this body art form has not limited itself to young girls and women.  If we take a close look at our past, we can see that even the males belonging to royal and high classes along with those belonging from the priestly families sported a mark between the two eyebrows.  Even in the 21^st century, men who claim themselves as priests are seen portraying such marks on the forehead as well as on the other parts of their body.

But here, our concern does not lie on discussing the fact whether such signs represent rituals and customs? So, taking you directly to the point let me tell you that, although ‘Bindis’ are the most striking and charming face decorating elements, yet in some regions of India, like, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar or Orissa, it is mandatory for women to wear it as their wedlock symbol.

In our country, the gracious ceremony of tying the nuptial knot remains incomplete without the color red. From wedding attire to jewelry, red color holds a firm place in the weddings of North India. Hence, a red bindi between the two eyebrows of the Indian brides is said to be the symbol of love, which they would share with the members of their new family. Some also believes on the myth that, in Aryan society the groom used to put his blood on the forehead of the bride to declare themselves as legally wedded husband and wife.

However, with evolution of time, ‘Bindi’ too has undergone many changes and has become a fashion statement for many. It has gone experimental in the recent decades never like before.  From its red hued powdered form to multi colored sticker bindi, today it is available in several shapes and sizes along with different shades and designs.  Ornamented bindis available in precious and semi precious stones are popular among the women during festivals and celebrations.

Do you remember the big bindi on the forehead of singer Usha Uthup?  The “kaw” shaped bindi, which has become her style icon for years, is her expression of love for the city of Kolkata. 

The Indian television industry too played a vital role in providing the body decorating item a new look. Beginning from Mandira Bedi’s ‘Shanti’ (a reverse arrow shaped bindi) till Neena Gupta’s ‘Saans’, where the title logo of the serial portrays a red dot underlined with a black line, it became a fashion statement and a symbol of modern women.  While Ekta Kapoor gave an entirely new identity to the adornment by using the traditional round bindis for good homemakers, while all kind of question marks and triangle shapes are indicative of evil and vamps.

Today, bindi signifies different meaning to different people. While for some it is a fashion statement, for Indian brides, it is a symbolic of their married life.