This is an ancient Hindu tradition called bindi, which means "a drop, a small particle, a little bit".
The word bindi comes from the Sanskrit word Dubin and is related to a person's mysterious third eye.
Although they are rooted in Hindu tradition, Bindis has become a popular accessory and fashion statement for some people over time.
For example, several western celebrities were accused of cultural appropriation for wearing blindfolds.
Traditionally, an eye patch is a bright red dot near the eyebrows in the center of the forehead.
But Bindis can also be other colors, with a logo on it or wearing a piece of jewelry.
Many people associate Red Bindi with the ancient custom of blood donation to appease the gods, Indian women and Red Bindi.
(Steve evans /CC BY 2.
0) Interestingly, in ancient Aryan society, the groom made a "tilaka" (long vertical mark) on the bride's forehead as a sign of marriage.
The current practice may be an extension of this tradition.
It is worth noting that when an Indian woman unfortunately becomes a widow, she no longer wears badges and other decorations related to married women. This is a ceremony of using Xianmen (a traditional makeup powder) at an Indian-Indian wedding.
(According to SA3.
0) No longer wearing this dress (and red tie) usually means widowhood.
The area between the eyebrows is considered as the sixth chakra, called ajna, which means "command" and is considered as a place to hide wisdom.
Tantric believers believe that in the process of meditation, potential energy rises from the bottom of the spine to the head, and ajna is the outlet of this powerful energy.
It is said that the red spots between the eyebrows can retain energy in the human body and control various concentrations.
It is also the center of the creative foundation itself, symbolizing auspiciousness and good luck. The goddess Lakshmi also wears a badge.
Indian tradition holds that everyone has a third eye.
Two tangible eyes are used to observe the outside world, and the third eye focuses on the inside of God.
Therefore, the red dot symbolizes piety and often reminds people to put God at the center of their thoughts.
/kloc-Illustrations of Rajasthan in the 0/8th century depict the ajna chakra.
(Public sphere), the striking Bindi is one of the most visually attractive forms of human body decoration.
Hindus attach great importance to this decorative mark between eyebrows. Since ancient times, eyebrows have always been considered as a major nerve point of the human body. An Indian woman wears a red blindfold.
(ellen Reitman/CC BY SA 2。
In addition to being an auspicious symbol of marriage, the red dot is also considered as a guarantee of the social status and sanctity of the marriage system.
When an Indian bride crosses the threshold of her husband's house, she wears shiny clothes and decorations and a red Bindi, which is considered to bring prosperity and give her a place to protect family welfare and future generations.
However, in modern times, the symbolic meaning of Bindi is no longer strictly observed, and it is largely used as a beauty accessory or a part of women's fashion.
Traditionally, the red dot is a paste made of turmeric powder and lemon or lime juice, which is dried in the sun.
Nowadays, many Indian women prefer to wear jewelry rather than modern brides.
(Prakhar Amba/CC times 2.
0), the modern Ministry of Communications does not know the gender restriction: both men and women can wear it.
Some modern men wear it on auspicious occasions, such as religious ceremonies or weddings, festive occasions, or when setting sail or returning from the battlefield.
In contrast, the tradition of men wearing tilaka has faded recently-now, in Bangalore, India, a man wears yellow flat shoes, and many more women participate in this decoration than men. (Victorgrigas/CC of Sa3.0), other changes also appeared in some single women wearing black dots, while women wearing marr improvised explosive devices wearing red dots.
Nowadays, women often wear polka-dot clothes that match their saris. Female security guards in narayan Gar, Chitwan district, Nepal wear black flat shoes.
(Sigi *** und von Dobschütz/CC BY SA 3。
0) It takes quite a lot of practice to complete a perfect circle by hand, but in modern times (and with the change of fashion), women are trying different shapes and designs.
Sometimes, the "red dot" is not a point at all-it is a straight line or an ellipse, triangle, or a miniature artwork made of a thin stick, which is sprinkled with gold and silver powder, inlaid with beads and inlaid with sparkling stones! Modern decorative binding machine.
(Drew/CC BY 2。
0), Le Bindi is also very popular outside South Asia in recent years. Celebrities and others often wear it as a fashion statement.
Some men and women in Bindi's traditional costume culture criticized this behavior as a cultural violation.
But they may not realize that in the western entertainment industry and consumerism culture, all this is for money-unfortunately, morality or tradition often disappears faster in the name of interests, which cannot be ignored. There is a great controversy about who has the right to wear flat shoes.
For example, writer and law student Vidya Ramachandran raised a provocative question. She wrote: Three famous women wearing flat shoes caused a lot of controversy.
(Global Culture) Like many other practices discussed from the perspective of cultural rights and cultural possession, the answer about who can wear Bindi is still a controversial topic. Above: Close-up of female eyes and red Bindi.