“Bindi”, coming from the Sanskrit word Bindu meaning a dot or point, is a part of traditional female attire found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This coloured dot was originally worn by Hindu and Jain women, but has gradually become a part of the entire Indian subcontinent and has come up as a fashion choice in the west. The bindi is believed to activate the third eye chakra or Ajna chakra and is hence worn between the brows, at the centre of the forehead.
Although the traditional bindi has always had some variations depending on different states, today it has evolved into fashionable shapes and colours, with additional jewels and designs. Bindi is known by different names in various regions such as Tikali in the Konkan region, Tika in Nepal, Phot or Phut in Assam, and Bottu or Pottu in South India.
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