If Not Bindi, Then What?

The Bindi was originally a red dot of vermillion put on the centre of the forehead of women.

It was the female counterpart of the male tilak, smeared on the head of one after some religious occasion. Other than the red dot, the bindi was also black for unmarried women in parts of South India while it was red for the married women there. 

What the bindi actually represents is the third eye – it is the point of higher consciousness. 

The Bindi has ever since evolved and we find it in multiple colours, shapes and sizes. Yet, it is something that keeps going in and out of fashion, while the cycle back from going to coming is so small that its hardly noticed by people! So, what else can we wear as an accessory in place of the bindi?

 

Maang Tikka

It is worn on the head, of usually married or to-be-married women, and is found widely everywhere. Even though it has not hit the fashion market for an everyday popular look, it soon might! The Maang Tikka is of Rajasthani origin, the Jhumar Tikka placed on one side of the head is worn in Muslim weddings and so on. 

 

Designs on the Forehead

It is another form of the bindi, but here you are to paint some design on your head. A famous example could be that of the Bengali letter ‘k’ that Usha Uthup sports.

 

Nose Pin

Be it your oxidized ones that are so popular now, or the large ones of kundan or so, nose rings have been popularized from the times of the Mughal Emperors. They have come back in fashion recently and there is no denying that everyone loves it!

 

Toe Ring 

Also known as Bichiya, or Metti, these accessories can be dated back to the Ramayana (Sita’s removing her toe ring when abducted by Ravana, to give her husband a clue to look for her). It is easy to wear, having a look at the back, and will soon evolve more as the nose-pin has!

 

Payal/Nupur

The reason why people wear the Nupur is that in Hinduism, the foot is regarded as the most impure part of the body since it touches the ground first. To adorn the feet is to show an act of devotion of the woman towards her family or spouse. Dancers wear them in the form of ghungroos. The ankle length jeans give us the good scope to flaunt the trendy payals. 

 

 

Then again, whatever we might say, it has been seen how time and again the trend of wearing a bindi keeps returning. The bindi game of people has also grown stronger, with various colours and designs to choose from. The bindi cannot be replaced, it is an evergreen phenomenon!