Dothead

The colored mark that some women from South and Southeast Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, and a few other countries) wear in the center of the forehead is called a bindi, which means “point” or “particle” in Sanskrit, an ancient language in which the Hindu sacred texts and classical Indian poetry are written. In modern times, bindis in various colors and shapes have become a popular form of body adornment. Some people might wear it as a sign of good luck before an exam or a job interview. However, the traditional bindi is a centuries-old custom in the Hindu and Jain religions, often related to the woman’s marital status. The custom varies from country to country, and in some places the mark has other names. Married women typically wear a red bindi, usually made of sandalwood paste, which symbolizes prosperity and the wife’s position as its family guardian. If a woman is widowed, she abandons the red bindi or replaces it with a black one. Historically, the bindi was also worn by men in royal and priestly families as a symbol of wisdom. Beyond its connection with marriage, the bindi represents the so-called “Third Eye” or spiritual perception beyond ordinary sight.