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The Sun, the moon and the ‘Bindi’!
Eternal, universal and illuminating. A small dot that encompasses
a lot of things – status, significance, personality,
religious sentiment, piece of jewelry and a fashion statement
of body art. Traditionally worn it’s usually a small
or a big eye-catching round mark made on the forehead as adornment.
One has seen the Bindi placed nimbly between the brows and
elsewhere on the body. It’s now continuously been spotted
on the foreheads of women in trendy music videos, on the red
carpets of prestigious awards or other global ceremonies.
So whether it is Madonna or Aishwariya Rai who wear it
proudly – the Bindi makes a statement. ‘Bindi’
means a ‘drop’ or a ‘point’ in Sanskrit.
It covers a spot between the eyebrows, which is believed to
be the |
mystic
third eye of a person which literally means ‘command’
and is known as the seat of concealed wisdom. Traditionally,
in India the Bindi has been applied in shades of the color
red. A pinch of vermilion powder is applied skillfully with
a practiced fingertip to make that perfect red dot. In many
communities, married women are encouraged to wear the
Bindi on the forehead at all times. In the contemporary age,
the Bindi has become a decorative item and is worn by all
women, in India. It is no longer restricted in color or shape.
Self-adhesive Bindis made from felt in various designs and
colors are now available. From the traditional form, the bindi
today has transcended into a modern day fashion statement
of body art. It has made tentative forays all over the
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