Bindi
Bindi: Then and Now
A “bindi” has traditionally been used mostly by South Asians from countries like Bangladesh, India, Mauritius, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It is often placed on the forehead between the eyebrows. It is also considered a spot of concealed wisdom, or as some may call, the “sixth chakra”. Even the very positioning of the bindi between the eyebrows plays a significant role. Most meditation practitioners focus their concentration on that spot, in respect of the inner god that resides in all of us. This inner god helps us transcend our earthly limitations and attachments. In addition, women have worn the bindi to signify their status – to declare whether they are married or not. They have always been a part of Asians’ rich heritage.
In recent times, an increasing number of women from outside the region of South Asia have started to wear a bindi, not within a religious or cultural context, but simply as an adornment and accessory. It has garnered attention when Hollywood celebrities (i.e. Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Katy Perry, and Selena Gomez) have started wearing them as accessories. This has enraged some people, especially those who think that the bindi signifies an important part of their heritage and should be respected. This is where the term Cultural Appropriation comes into play, given that a lot of people from western countries like America tend to neglect these cultural differences and sensibilities. Another school of thought, on the other hand, states that it can be seen as cultural appreciation and as a way of trying to integrate elements of another culture into our own. For whatever it’s worth, maybe using a cultural adornment like the bindi as a fashion accessory can be one way of keeping a particular artifact relevant during the changing times. Maybe there should just be restraint as to when to use the bindi and to be sensitive to people who give it high regard.
Bibliography
Das, Subhamoy. “Bindi: The Great Indian Forehead Art” Accessed November 25, 2014.
http://hinduism.about.com/od/bindis/a/bindi.htm
“Cultural Appreciation or Cultural Appropriation.” Accessed November 25, 2014.
http://unsettlingamerica.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/cultural-appreciation-or-cultural-appropriation/
Nanda, Jasmine Seera. “The Bindi Chronicle.” Accessed November 24, 2014.
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2013/03/the-bindi-chronicle-jasmine-seera-nanda/
