Monday, August 07, 2006

Bindi...


Roadside Modern "Bindi" Stall on commercial Street.... 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 ajna, or forehead chakra, a center of bodily and spiritual energy that represents the third, or "spiritual" eye 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
tilaka for further discussion of the spiritual meaning of the bindi. More>>

 Posted by Picasa

3 comments:

Kim Mon Aug 07, 09:27:00 PM GMT+5:30  

This is fun to see. Where I used to live (Berkeley, CA) there are many merchants who sell goods from India. Many university students frequent the shops and purchase bindis to wear. They are available in many styles and sizes. They have become an easy and cheap alternative to nose and lip piercings (popular with young women on the west coast of the US the past few years). They use tini bindis as stick-on nose jewels, with none of the protective or spiritual connotations. Of course there are many women who do where bindis in the traditional manner there, as well.
-Kim

Lisi Mon Aug 07, 09:53:00 PM GMT+5:30  

ah, that's the red dot on the forehead, right? great info!

Manuel Tendero Gil Tue Aug 08, 04:05:00 AM GMT+5:30  

hola estupendas fotos un saludo