Derived from the Sanskrit word 'bindu', bindi means a drop. It signifies a mystic third eye. Although once associated with Hindu marriage tradition, today the bindi is a fashion accessory for girls and women of all ages, religions and backgrounds.
A nicely draped sari is complemented with a stylish bindi worn between eyebrows. Today bindis are worn with salwar kameez and even jeans and fotua. These fashion accessories are widely available at the stores of Dhaka.
Gausia is indeed a heaven for bindi lovers. Bindis of all colours, patterns and sizes grace the shelves of the shops of this busy market. Bindis are also available at Eastern Plaza, New Market, Rifles Square, Metro Shopping Mall, Karnaphuli Garden City and most other malls of the capital. The outlet of Priyo located at Fatema Arcade, Dhanmondi also has a wide collection of bindis. The bindis available at Dhaka come from India, and most of these are genuinely trendy.
There was a time when bindi meant placing a dot on the forehead with sandalwood powder or kohl. And then there were the years of wearing simple rotund bindis of multiple shades. However, bindis have changed their outlook over decades. Bindis available at Dhaka now uphold intricate work of stones, metal springs, beads and even pearls.
A set of plain round bindis might cost you as low as Tk. 5. However, prices will rise as stones and beads are added to the bindis. A set of bindis with neat stone and beadwork will cost you between tk.50 and tk.200.
Long bindis are in vogue now. Each piece of these long bindis will cost you around tk.60. These hold up elegant work of multicoloured stones, white pearls and golden beads. Then again, this kind of bindis is more appropriate for formal occasion like wedding.
Then there are bridal bindis of diverse colours, forms and sizes, each will cost you at least tk.60.
Solitaire bindis are sold in small plastic box too. Each box will cost you between tk.40 and tk.100. Gracing the forehead with simple white stones have been in fashion for quite sometime. Each leaf of such simple white-stone bindis will cost you tk.20 on the minimum.
Today bindis in patterns of tikli are also available at stores; each of these special, eye-grabbing bindis will cost you tk.100. Bindis are also available in elegant wooden boxes these days. You can check out the branches of Priyo and Almas for these lovely bindis marked with heavy yet delicate composition of colourful stones and beads; each wooden box will cost you between tk.350 and tk.450.
Arm tattoos now take forms of bindis too. Gorgeous arm bindis are sold at around tk.80. If worn with dazzling saris, each of these arm bindis will bestow a stunning look on you. There was a time when young women painted their forehead with kumkum. Kumkum is still available today, a set of kumkum will cost you about tk.50 only.
There was a time when bindis were solely used to beautify the space between eyebrows; however, this notion has largely changed over time. Today bindis are worn even in place like the corner of one's eyes. The white-stone bindis are widely used by young women to adorn their eyes. In India, bindis are used by young girls to decorate nails, nose and even belly button!
Attending a formal occasion without a bindi embellishing the forehead seems impossible to a lot of women. A Hindu proverb says that 'A woman's beauty is multiplied 1,000 times when she wears a bindi.' So you too give it a go!
By Wara Karim
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Date of publication: December 7, 2004
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