A person who wears a dot on the middle of her forehead is a sign that she is a proud Hindu. This dot is called a Bindi. In the olden days, all men and women both wore the Bindi. Today, it is the women who are most faithful in wearing the Bindi. The Bindi has a mystical meaning. It represents the third eye of the spiritual sight, which the regular eye cannot see. The Bindi is made up of red powder or sandal paste. The red powder is called sindur, traditionally made from powdered turmeric juice and fresh lime juice. A woman who wears a red Bindi shows that she is a married woman. Black Bindis are usually worn by babies and young children to ward off the evil eye. As an exotic fashion statement, the color of the Bindi sometimes compliments the color of the woman's sari.

Sindur (vermilion) blood-red powder, usually smeared on the forehead and at the parting of the hair (sithi) of Hindu married women. This is part of the marriage ritual and is inherited from ancient tribal cultures. It was inconceivable in many tribal communities that a marriage would take place without the use of vermilion as a ceremonial seal to the wedlock. According to the practice in some communities, marriages are solemnised by putting vermilion on the forehead and sithi of the bride as the priest prays to god for happiness of the couple. This is done without incantation of any hymns. According to the custom of the Kharia tribesmen, after a bride is given away by her parents, the couple stand up and smear each other's foreheads with vermilion seven times and garland each other as their dresses are knotted amidst playing of drums. After the bride is given away, the groom puts vermilion on the bride's sithi with the help of his little finger seven times. Among the Bhumij tribesmen, marriage is performed by a priest's incantation of hymns and giving away of the bride. The groom then puts vermilion at the bride's sithi three times with the help of his little finger. Next, the hands of the couple are joined together.

AR! From the rakhi to the sindur - truly you're making a journey of india discovery. Has your bf talked about sindoor? Thats kind of like talking about rings - he's talking marriage baby! Congrats - maybe he'll propose soon...

A red powder applied on the forehead of Hindu women symbolising their marriage.