Bindi: The Indian tradition

Back to Diwali Festival of Lights

Sunday 18 October 2009
1.00 - 8.00 pm
Level 1, TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Curator: Arti Gentejohann

About the Exhibition

The exhibition “Bindi - The Indian Tradition” will be held on 18 October 2009 at TSB Bank Arena (first floor) as a part of the annual public celebration of Diwali supported by Asia:NZ and Wellington City Council. This exhibition will give an opportunity to its viewers to explore the world behind the bindi dot commonly seen on Indian women’s foreheads. When the Indian woman decorates her forehead with the red dot, she is following a custom that goes back thousands of years.

This exhibition will explain the ancient Indian tradition of bindi (the Indian dot) with its history, social and religious significance of bindi for ceremonies and festivals and also as a fashion accessory in the world fashion.

The tradition of Bindi

An Indian woman does not seem complete without a colourful bindi on her forehead, especially at occasions of weddings, religious ceremonies, festivals or with traditional outfits. The bindi is arguably the most visually fascinating of all forms of body decoration and an inseparable part of the Indian woman’s identity.

Also known as tika, pottu, sindhur (sindoor), tilaka, tilakam and kumkum, a bindi is usually an eye-catching round mark made on the forehead as adornment. Hindus attach great importance and significance to this mark on the forehead. Since ancient times, the spot between the eyebrows has been considered a major focal point in the human body. The red powder (kumkum) between the eyebrows is said to help in retaining energy in the human body. A red dot on the forehead of married Hindu women is an auspicious sign of marriage.

Curator: Arti Gentejohann

Curator Arti Gentejohann is a freelance curator. Since 1997, Mrs Gentejohann has been developing exhibitions covering different themes of Indian culture, especially for Diwali celebrations. Her previous Diwali exhibitions were “Dazzling Diyas - Traditional Indian Lamps” in 2006 and “Masala - The Story of Spices & Indian Cuisine” in 2007-2008. She has also organised a number of Indian documentary film festivals.