The bindi

Bindis were first recorded over 1000 years ago in the 11th Century CE. At the time they were worn for various customary and religious reasons.

The bindi was worn to symbolise concealed strength and wisdom and was described as

"the sacred symbol of the cosmos in its unmanifested state”.

There are many possible reasons for the wearing of the bindi a millenia ago.

It could have been to aid in meditation as in Hindu, Jain and Bhuddist tradition the centre of the forehead is where one focuses his/her sight and to help in concentration.

In Hinduism, the color red represents honor, love, and prosperity, hence it may have been worn to symbolise these aspects.

One simple interpretation is that it is a cosmetic mark used to enhance beauty.

The traditional red or maroon bindi has retained its relevance religiously and historically but alongside it variations of the bindi have evolved over time through advances in fashion and have gone on to incorporate glass, precious stones and paints.

Below is a picture of bindis created hundreds of years ago using paints and tree sap.

Some of our bindis retain the same look and style of these traditional bindis. Most of our bindis are encrusted with tiny gem stones to add a bit of sparkle and shine.

The beauty of bindis is that they have always been handmade by artisans who work meticulously to design and produce the latest styles in bindi and this continues today.

All of our bindis are designed and produced in a small factory in India where our artisans work throughout the year to help us create the most sought after collection of bindis which would suit the demand of our discerning customers.

It may seem like designs never change but our bindi designs change almost every 6 months.

Tiny changes to beads, materials and stones are made to improve the look of our bindis.

Traditional red/maroon velvet bindis are still extremely popular and are now available in a range colours to match different outfits.

The bindi is a versatile and simple accessory. They can be worn alone or as part of an ensemble of accessories.

Today the bindi is universally recognised as a symbol of south asian culture but is worn by celebrities the world over.

Dot bindis are extremely popular and can be worn anywhere on the body. You may choose to add them beside the eyes or on fingernails.

Most bindis can only be worn once with the sticky adhesive on the back. Our bindis are created for a longer life. They can be worn up to 3 times if kept away from dust and stored in their original packaging. If you would like to re-use our bindis we sell bindi glue, which not only prolongs the life of your bindis but also can be used as an adhesive for other jewellery and accessories to stop them moving around.

https://www.chohansonline.com/bindi?page=3

Written by the team at Chohans Fashion.

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