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The little red dot
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A vermilion dot which was once a mark of beauty and purity, the bindi, has today, taken different shapes, sizes and hues, and is certainly on the designer path.
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CALL IT tilak a la ancient times or bindi in the current-day context, the vermilion dot on the forehead - mostly associated with women, and occasionally with men - is undisputedly an adornment in itself.
In the earlier times, besides the priests, some men applied the tilak on their forehead on special occasions like a battle, a hunt or other important events when the mother/ wife used to smear it on the man's forehead before he set out on his mission.
Though it dates back to pre-Aryan society, the origins of the tilak are quite unknown. But, it is believed to have been derived from the traditional tribal practice of smearing one's body with different colours.
Denoting "a red mark with a pleasant odour", the tilak is a refined adaptation of this tribal practice - done for decorative purposes and religious reasons.
In the Aryan society, the groom used to apply his blood on his bride's maang (parting in the hair on the head) as recognition of wedlock.
The practice continues till date, with a difference though - today, married Indian women apply a round vermilion dot called tilak, bindi or kumkum on the forehead and also in the maang.
While the Vaishnavites (worshippers of Lord Vishnu) apply the tilak in the `U' shape, Shaivites wear it as three horizontal lines - on the forehead, forearms and abdomen. Sindhoora (orangy red powder), bhasma (cinders), abhira (soot) and gandha (sandalwood paste) were the diversified versions of the bindi in earlier times, in different hues of red, yellow, saffron, white, grey and black.
When looked in the present-day context, the bindi has acquired different sizes, shapes and `shades' - not only in terms of colours but also the negative connotations that go with it.
There is a bindi for every occasion and there is a bindi to match with every dress - in a range of colours.
Umpteen songs are written about the woman and her bindi - the popular ones being Bindiya chamkegi, Meri bindiya teri nindiya and Teri bindiya re.
And today, a regular viewer of daily soaps like Kahin Kissii Roz (KKR), Kabhi Aaye Na Judaai (KANJ), Kasautii Zindagii Kay (KZK) and Kabhi Sauten Kabhi Saheli (KSKS) cannot miss the trademark bindi that makes serial-watching an endearing affair.
Unfortunately, however, what was once a mark of beauty and purity has now acquired a negative aspect with the vamps in the serials wearing attractive designer bindis, while the good ones are supposed to be applying an ordinary round red dot.
But, it is the scheming ones who get all the recognition - like the glamorous mother-in-law portrayed by Sudha Chandran in KKR.
"I feel it is the vicious mom-in-law who hogs the limelight and in actuality becomes the pillar of the soap. It is more due to the variety she attributes to the role as a whole - be it for her flowing fabrics, designer bindis or bangles. Sudha Chandran hardly looks like a mother-in-law and can give her co-stars who are supposedly younger than her in the serial a run for their money," says D. Madhavi, a housewife at Mettuguda.
What Sudha has done for KKR, Oorvashi Dholakia did for KZK, one has to agree. See one frame and you can find what shapes the serpents, (different) trees, stars, planets, inverted alphabet, S and U, and glitter take on a woman's forehead. It is interesting to note the curious shapes and sizes, and the effect these bindis have on the viewers.
"My eight-year-old daughter brings her bindi collection - both the stickers and the bottled liquid in different colours - and wants me to apply the designs she had seen the previous night on her forehead," says a worried Hema M., a software engineer.
"I try to dissuade her from watching the serials, but my work schedules are such that I really can't keep track of what she is watching. Oorvashi, aka Koumolika, is her favourite, thanks to her fascinating bindis."
"Though mostly Chutki watches Cartoon Network and doesn't follow every word of Hindi, I'm worried about the kind of impact these soaps have on immature minds," says Hema.
Whatever the adults might say , the fact is designer bindis are here to stay. You cannot imagine a social gathering, a party, or even a college function without them. So, just stick them on without second thoughts.
SHANTI NANISETTI
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