Why do Indian women put red dots on their foreheads?

Answer 1

Wikipedia says those things are called bindis

and I quote...

"A bindi (which means "dot" in Hindi) is a forehead decoration worn in South and Southeast Asia. It can also be called a pottu or a tilak.

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 forehead chakra, a center of bodily and spiritual energy in Hindu belief. The bindi is believed to prevent the loss of "energy", as well as bringing spiritual protection against demons or bad luck. See tilak for further discussion of the spiritual meaning of the bindi.

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 South Asia. It is no longer restricted in colour or shape. Self-adhesive bindis made from felt in various designs and colours are now available.

Outside South Asia, bindis may be worn by women of the South Asian diaspora. Some Westerners who have converted to Hindu sects like the Hare Krishna may wear bindis. Sometimes they are worn as a style statement. Pop singer Gwen Stefani wears 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."

Answer 2

Mostly, they are married ( a woman with a dot on their forehead) but you can signify an Indian by looking in their forehead of what their present marital status.....its in their belief putting dots or whatever you called that on their forehead. I did not have any Indian friend what's really the reason behind why practise putting mark on their head. Hope I can meet Indian friend here....Am also an asian but not in India. Check out my 360 profile to find me more. See yeah!

Answer 3

Wow! so many false but outright insulting comments! truly christian I guess?

It depends. A red dot is a decoration for women. Both unmarried and married girls use. But married women use it more as also a symbol of being married. Thats because married women are traditionally encouraged to be well ornamented.

Its also a spiritual symbol. And a tilak not exactly a bindi but is applied after a puja and is seen as a spiritual symbol.Both men and wemen apply tilak. A tilak may very according to beliefs of the person or it may not.

Its also used as a fashion statement. and essential part of a bridal make up.

Answer 4

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 forehead chakra, a center of bodily and spiritual energy in Hindu belief. The bindi is believed to prevent the loss of "energy", as well as bringing spiritual protection against demons or bad luck. Just an ancient belief.

Answer 5

It's called a bindi- could be a red power or a stick-on. It's to show they're married. Of course, lots of Indian women do it for fashion purposes as well with various colours and designs, since it goes well with traditional Indian outfits.

Answer 6

I was told by an Indian man that the red dot is a 3rd eye that they use when praying, I think they use it to connect spiritually, I don't know if that is true but that's what he said.

Answer 7

Bindi is a dot that most indian women appy to the forehead.
Bindi is mostly a sign for married woman. It called Bindi ok

Answer 8

It's not an Indian tradition but a Hindu tradition instead. In some areas it is about marital status while in other areas, it's about decoration. More recently it's been different shapes and colors. Check out the link....interesting stuff!

Answer 9

Religion & when an Indian Women reaches womenhood they get a dot.

Answer 10

First of all the red dot is called "Bindiya", its more of a cultural thing....some consider that only married people put it on their head....but so do it coz they look good and some do it...as a pert of a make up procedure...for social events marriages etc...