To all Indians.. Very important question i've always wanted to know the answer 2

that is called bindi and in india we all wear it.. married ladies wear it as a sign of marriage and young girls wear it to look beautiful and more over its a culture here and in india you will find all or atleast most of the hindus wearing the bindi and they also say in the point between your eyes where we keep bindi it wards off negative power or if any one thinks bad about us it will not affect us

The middle of the forehead (important to the body) has to do with meditation, as well as in some Indian culture for a red dot on the woman means they are married, if it's a different color than red (means she isn't married and for cosmetic purpose.) Somewhat a pledge to their husbands when it's red/married. I've also read somewhere has to do with praying and religion.

it is sindur or bindi.it can be kept either in the middle of the forehead ie where the eyebrows join or at the top of forehead.top of forhead will be a symbol for married women and we believe goddess laxmi(god for wealth)stays there.we even keep bindi to kids whcih usually black (kajal) to get rid of evil things.it is mostly for hindus.further this bindi or kumkum will be given by the priest in temples.whenever some ladies visits our house we used to give them sindhur.

I'm not Indian but I know it's a caste mark. Here is what I found out: This red powder, commonly seen on the foreheads of Hindu men and women, is not a caste mark at all. It has an auspicious significance as a mark of respect and reverence, used in all religious ceremonies, by all Hindus regardless of caste. It is also applied to statues of deities during worship. More important, when worn by a Hindu woman, it tells the world that she is married, and conversely would never adorn the forehead of a widow. LOVELINA NADKARNI

Hello pebbles, I just wanted to thank you for posting this discussion. I too, have always wondering the true meaning. Of course I had been told many different things, but wanted to get the answer from someone who actually knew and wasn't just assuming or passing on what they had 'heard.' I had been told everything from religion, virgin vs non-virgin, married vs single, and countless other reasons for the dot. Thanks again for having the guts to ask!

I would like to know the same thing. I have wondered about it for years. I am told in some cultures, it is a sign of royalty--not sure. I sure hope someone responds and lets us know. I am curious, too.

I had a very nice Indian lady call to my house a couple of weeks back and she had the red do on her forhead. I hadn't the courage to ask her what it signified, so after she left, I asked my husband (who claims to know everything), but he didn't know. It left me very curious, so I am glad you introduced this topic, so that my curiosity could be satisfied.

I am from India. Your question is really interesting one to answer and there is nothing to feel negative or offended about it. This red dot what you see is know as "Bindi" which is traditionally applied with a special powder called as "Kum Kum", by married women. But since itis considered to be a part and part of make up in the Indian culture unmarried girls also apply this Dot, but they use something else than "Kum Kum" powder. There are artificial red colours available which are commonly used. Now a days the traditional red colour has been replaced by various other colours and various other textures. They call it as matching Bindi, when they apply a Bindi that matches with their Dress.Bangles are also mathched some time with Bindi and Dress.Now a days with fast life these Bindis have taken the form of stickers . These stickers are available in various forms, colours, designs. Some of them are very rich in their design and colouration giving an attractive look.These stickers are available in a nicely packed pouch and are normally each bindi is used only once.That is to say they are use and through away types. Now why this Bindi is applied? Though basically it is worn by women as said aerlier to express the marital status, it is also applied by male members of the society, who are traditinal in their behaviour. If scientifically seen, in Hindu culture there are certain points in our body which are sensitive to touch and they release positive energy when touched or massaged. These points can be compared with the accupressure points followed by Chinese. The Naval and the point between two eye lids are considered to be mostimportant such points. I think by applying Bindi on daily basis the particular pressure point is touched several times a day, and perhaps this may stimulate positive and healthy energy in the individual doing so. Beauty is ofcourse another reason for applying this Bindi. Traditional "Kum Kum' is antiseptic and this might be keeping flies and other insects away from others as this powder is having a typical strong smell, which might not be liked by the insects! I also would be interested to hear from others for any more reasons why this Bindi is applied.Thanks for initiating such anice discussion !

Good posting...Thanks for asking this. I see you are getting a variety of answers. I'll check back and see what develops here. Learning about things like this is what brings us together and that's what it's all about as far as I'm concerned.

The mark in the forehead is relegious and scientific. Hindus use this dot not only of red color but also ash and sandal color. This should be actually kept inbetween our Eyebrows which is called as third eye. Actually This is scientific.The place in between the eyebrows if we penetrate inside there is Pitutary Gland The Master of all the glands.If this place is touched It will activate The Master gland Which will activate All Other Glands, and will help to keep our body in good condition by secreting the required Harmones.

India is a land of cultures and it has a very very big history. Now coming to ur question about dott, It is called matha ka tilak, and the reason is very simple .The hindu religion says it to kep the dot.

Thanks for posting this topic, now i know the meaning of the red dot on the forehead...so thus this mean if the woman wears it in other color than red she is still unmarried and she put it to make herself more beautiful like makeup?

the philosophy behind tilak which you call red dot is to absorb the energy from outer enviroment and feed them into your mind so that your thinking will uprise from lower to higher level of sprituality

Fine. You asked very good question. Generally when people go to church or Masjid or any holy place, they wear related clothes or some signs which show their devotion to God. When we do prayer (Hindu), we put red dot or dark red line on forehead. This sign is the blessing of God. Those who regularly involve in temple or holy places, regularly wear it.

It is called bindi. In old days it was supposed to be of religious benefit and whenever we pray to god we are supposed to put it on your forehead as a blessing from god. It comes in a red colored powder believed to be blessed by the god himself. But nowadays it is worn as a fashion in our country. Now it comes in various sizes and shapes as sticker rather than powder. Many designs have come up and many youngsters use it just for fashion rather than religious belief which has been sidelined.

I too have wandered the same thing. Im going to take a guess a say it might mean they are married or single. Im sure someone here will tell you. Cheers

its called the bindi and indian women wear it though it is not compulsary by any religion or faith.its a cosmetic thing which women wear to add to their make up.though married women wear it more.it has benn associated with the indian culture from a very old time and is still in fashion.

the red spot on the forehead that you may have seen with indians is just a symbol of blessing and a way to wish good luck when a person is leaving for some job.it is called TIKA and is refered as a symbol of god's blessings,luck,prosperity and also well being.

The red dot on the forehead of a woman signifies her status in society, that is of a married woman. Red in our country is considered auspicious, so red dot signifies that she is married and is loved by a man. Like other communities wear different things to identify a married woman with jewellery like the ring, Indians wear the red dot.

im not indian, but i aswell have a red dot the same place as indians have theirs. and i am white british i had from the day i was born from my parent have told me... everyone tel me im very lucky to have this red dot dont have a clue why they think im lucky