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| A '''bindi''' ({{lang-hi|बिन्दि}} meaning "dot") is a forehead decoration worn in Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It may also be called a ''pottu'' or a '']''. | A '''bindi''' ({{lang-hi|बिन्दि}} meaning "dot") is a forehead decoration worn in Indian Subcontinent<ref></ref> and Southeast Asia. It may also be called a ''pottu'' or a '']''. | ||
| Married ] women traditionally wear a bindi on their foreheads. The traditional bindi is made with red ] powder or perhaps a black ointment. It is applied over the '']'', or forehead '']'', a center of bodily and spiritual energy that represents the ] in Hindu belief. The bindi is believed to prevent the loss of "energy", as well as bringing spiritual protection against demons or bad luck. In the contemporary age, the bindi has become a decorative item and is worn by unmarried as well as non-Hindu women, in ], ] and other countries of ]. It is no longer restricted in colour or shape. Self-adhesive bindis made from felt in various designs and colours are now available. | Married ] women traditionally wear a bindi on their foreheads. The traditional bindi is made with red ] powder or perhaps a black ointment. It is applied over the '']'', or forehead '']'', a center of bodily and spiritual energy that represents the ] in Hindu belief. The bindi is believed to prevent the loss of "energy", as well as bringing spiritual protection against demons or bad luck. In the contemporary age, the bindi has become a decorative item and is worn by unmarried as well as non-Hindu women, in ], ] and other countries of ]. It is no longer restricted in colour or shape. Self-adhesive bindis made from felt in various designs and colours are now available. | ||
| Outside Indian Subcontinent, bindis may be worn by women of the |
Outside Indian Subcontinent, bindis may be worn by women of the ] origin. Some Westerners who have converted to Hindu dharma<ref></ref> like the ] may wear bindis. Sometimes they are worn as a style statement. International celebrities such as ], ], ], and ] have been seen wearing bindis. | ||
| The bindi is often associated with women, but in fact it can be worn, either by itself or as part of a more elaborate caste-mark ('']'') by tradition-minded Hindu men. | The bindi is often associated with women, but in fact it can be worn, either by itself or as part of a more elaborate caste-mark ('']'') by tradition-minded Hindu men. | ||
Revision as of 05:49, 1 November 2006
A bindi (Template:Lang-hi meaning "dot") is a forehead decoration worn in Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It may also be called a pottu or a tilaka.
Married Hindu women traditionally wear a bindi on their foreheads. The traditional bindi is made with red sindoor powder or perhaps a black ointment. It is applied over the ajna, or forehead chakra, a center of bodily and spiritual energy that represents the third, or "spiritual" eye in Hindu belief. The bindi is believed to prevent the loss of "energy", as well as bringing spiritual protection against demons or bad luck. In the contemporary age, the bindi has become a decorative item and is worn by unmarried as well as non-Hindu women, in India, Bangladesh and other countries of Indian Subcontinent. It is no longer restricted in colour or shape. Self-adhesive bindis made from felt in various designs and colours are now available.
Outside Indian Subcontinent, bindis may be worn by women of the Indian origin. Some Westerners who have converted to Hindu dharma like the Hare Krishna may wear bindis. Sometimes they are worn as a style statement. International celebrities such as Shakira, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, and Shania Twain have been seen wearing bindis.
The bindi is often associated with women, but in fact it can be worn, either by itself or as part of a more elaborate caste-mark (naamam) by tradition-minded Hindu men.
References