CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE

TERMS, EXPRESSIONS, AND

IMAGES IN INDIA
PRESENTED BY: MARIEL G. DEPAUDHON
BSED ENGLISH 2 B
INDIAN SIGNS
 SPIRITUAL MARKING ON THE FOREHEAD –
TILIKAS & BINDIS

• The spiritual markings on

the forehead are called
tilakas and bindis.
 WHAT ARE BINDIS?

• Let’s start with bindis because they’re

simpler.
• Bindi means “drop”. Indian women
traditionally haven’t worn a wedding ring
like we in the west do as a sign of marriage
– they wear a touch of red dye
• (kunkuma or vermilion) on their forehead.
 WHAT ARE TILAKAS ?

• Tilaka means ‘mark’. It is worn on the

forehead or elsewhere on the upper body as
a sign of surrender – marking your body as
a temple for a specific deity.
• Worshippers of Devi or the goddess Kali
wear an all red marking made with
kunkuma or a red powder.
WHY DO WE WEAR MARKS ON TE FOREHEAD?

(TILAK, POTTU AND THE LIKE)

 • The tilak or pottu invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer and other. It is
recognized as a religious mark. Its form and color vary according to one’s caste,
religious sect or the form of the Lord worshipped.
• In earlier times, the four castes (based on varna or color) – Brahmana, Kshatriya.
• Vaishya and Sudra – applied marks differently.
• The Vaishya wore a yellow kesar or turmeric mark.
• The sudra applied a black bhasma, kasturi or charcoal mark.
THANK YOU