“A woman’s beauty is multiplied 1,000 times when she wears a bindi”- Indian proverb
It goes without saying, English life and Indian life are further than just their distance.. Different languages, cuisines, fashion, climate- just to name some of the obvious ones. One of the differences for me is that in India, I wear a bindi. When you see a woman wearing one, it immediately catches your eye. A beautiful mark in-between the eyebrows. In Nagpur it is rare to see a women without one.
My mother-in-law applied the red paste to my forehead head for the first time the day after I arrived in India. It does take some getting used to, I have unknowingly smeared it across my forehead a couple of times by touching my face or changed my clothes and forgetting its there. Hopefully with practice I will have fewer little bindi ‘accidents’. My grandmother-in-law was concerned that I wouldn’t wear a bindi, being English. However, I was really excited to wear one after finding out the meaning of this tradition.
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The tradition of wearing a bindi dates back over 5,000 years. This is evident from ancient temples where you can see the statues of Goddesses are adorned with a bindi. The word is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘bindu’, or drop, and suggests the mystic third eye (ajna) chakra. Wearing a bindi is a way to strengthen and retain the energy in the third eye chakra. This red dot on the forehead is a reminder to be conscious your spirituality when you catch a glimpse of it in a mirror. The bindi has various cultural significance depending on where you are in India and you can see them in all shapes, colours and sizes.
On top of all of this, the bindi is a sign of beauty and I feel much more beautiful whilst wearing one. I think there is definitely some truth in that Indian proverb!
Yes, a bindi is very important part of Indian culture. I am happy to see they way u r accommodating your self well. You look good in Indian avatar!!!
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Thank you so much KD. Yes, I have always been in love with Indian culture from afar, so grateful to be apart of it now with the love of my lifes x
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Enjoy the colourful journey… Best of luck & Best Wishes !!!
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I adore the bindi too…today mine is hot pink 🙂 Lakshmi x
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Bindi suits you and it makes any outfit look better. It’s been a while since I’ve work one!
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Meant to say ‘worn one’
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You look amazing! 🙂
Bindis look gorgeous – little wonder they are one of the solah shringar (sixteen adornments) of an Indian bride. And we love bindis, especially red ones!!
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It looks very beautiful! 🙂
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You look beautiful! I bet it pleased your Indian friends – mine always give me a big smile and head wobble when I show up in Indian clothes, etc.
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aw lovely! the quote is very beautiful
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I get the spooks reading this because as a teenager I started talking about the third eye. And I don’t know if you are familiar with the Japanese healing art of Reiki but when I received my first Reiki treatment I felt like a plug popped out of my third eye. It is very spiritual. It is called the “Kutashka center” by Paramahansa Yogananda if you have heard if him– see “Autobiography of a Yogi.”. You should read it.
You look beautiful with your Bindi. My mother had a beauty mark there so looked like she had a Bindi. Blessings to you and your husband!!
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I have had a lot of Reiki healing myself! That is so interesting you felt like that!! I too have had such experiences whilst having Reiki… I see colours and lights. Wonderful.
I am definitely going to check out that book! Thank you so much. Lots of blessings and love xxx
P.S, I am sure that is auspicous to have a beauty mark there 😀 x
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[…] in our hair. The scent is so gorgeous, who needs perfume when you have mogra in your hair? I also wore a bindi everyday, there is something about wearing a bindi that makes me feel beautiful. I think every woman should […]
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I hope you have spectacular Indian wedding ! You’ll find more ideas for your wedding dress in these videos.http://goodtimes.ndtv.com/bandbaajabride/videolist.aspx
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Here in Blighty, my forehead is always adorned with a pottu (Tamil for bindi). Inwardly it brings me strength, and outwardly its beauty symbolises my Hindu faith. As I’m single, my pottu is black, but I hope for the auspicious day when marriage comes, and I can wear a red pottu.
Wishing you a Happy Holi.
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Dear Priya,
How beautiful, I am so glad you still wear your pottu in the UK! What a wonderful day it will be when you go from black to red!!
God bless. Happy Holi!!! x
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I don’t like the bindi some how, but your post was very interesting read onit
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You look very beautiful in Bindi
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Thank you
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Aahhh…..
Dis blog is so damn addictive… 😀
Hope u r enjoying ur indian life :p though totally diffrent… but love needs sacrifices 🙂
Tc
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My gf is more attracted to ur blog more den me :p
After reading dis she also planned to stay in imdia first. …
Blessed to get a gf like her ❤ ☺😝
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Haha, I am sure she is still more attracted to you!
Hope you are both well.
Take care
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You look beautiful with Bindi. You can also create your own attractive bindi designs using eyeliner.
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[…] in our hair. The scent is so gorgeous, who needs perfume when you have mogra in your hair? I also wore a bindi everyday, there is something about wearing a bindi that makes me feel beautiful. I think every woman should […]
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[…] 14. Feeling gorgeous and grounded whilst wearing a bindi. […]
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[…] or not to wear a bindi. I asked Indian women what the bindi meant to them and tried to uncover the ancient symbolism. Afterwards I thought long and hard about what the bindi means to […]
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[…] my hair was a messy (luckily they wanted to cover my head), I had even forgotten to put on a bindi before going out! I guess you should always be ready for anything, life in India is a lot of […]
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