Why do Indians have dots?

Question

Ok, so I’m sure this is a really politically incorrect way of phrasing this question, but, why do Indians have dots? On their foreheads I mean. I work with a lovely Indian woman who I get along quite well with, but I didn’t want to ask her in case I inadvertently caused offence. I’m just curious about her culture and what it means to her. Is it a religious thing? Or is it just a fashion statement?

Answer 1

The “dot” is a religious mark that is typically worn by Hindu women although men used to wear them as well and it serves two purposes. Firstly, it is an outward symbol that the person is a practicing Hindu. Secondly, the mark, in the Hindi language it is called a bindee, although it can have other names as well, is said to represent divine or spiritual sight, capable of seeing things that are not visible to our eyes, something that is very important to Hindu people. The bindee reminds Hindus to seek spiritual vision with their minds eye, something that is often achieved through yoga.

Answer 2

You’re right, asking someone why do Indians have dots is in no way politically correct and could potentially cause offense. For Hindus, it is religious and should be treated with respect. However, if you see a bunch of drunken Caucasian girls wearing them, whilst also wearing hardly any clothes and stumbling down the street at midnight, then it is unlikely to be a religious symbol. Bindees became “fashionable” a few years back and hordes of girls in their mid to late teens could suddenly been seen sporting the latest in “Indian fashion” (it seemed to be the bigger and more elaborate the design, the better). Not sure how traditional Hindus felt about this, but personally I thought it was incredibly disrespectful. First you highjack someone’s religious symbol and then you drag it through the gutter (although come to think of it, not so different to what happened when the Christian cross became a fashion accessory…).