My kum kum story!

The sacred symbol of universe is depicted as a dot or the zero. My curiosity was piqued when I was studying in 6th grade after watching an advertisement on Eyetex Pallavi kumkum. When I asked my grandmother she explained that it plays a special significant in the Indian tradition and spirituality, but I wasn’t satisfied with the answer. Later years passed , on my 12th grade biology period under the topic brain my biology teacher explained me the healthy view point on a wearing a bindhi and she also briefed about the pineal gland that lies between the eyebrows. Well ,my hunt to find the answers din’t end…I had to think beyond!

In a course of time when I was talking about saree and bindhi with one of my college friend, he brought up a topic ..where he fought with his mother and he also told me how he adores the bindhi/pottu(inTamil) when his mother stickes it on the mirror. Keeping that in mind and the incident he wrote a view point from a female perspective :

We all grew up idolizing our mom right, despite of her being hard on us sometimes. Have you ever noticed the Pottu (Bindhi) that your mom sticks on to the dressing table mirror?

Even though I used a colourful one to enhance my beauty,

but it never matches the one on mirror

The one I aligned my forehead to

The one that held mixed emotions and millions of memories

The one that made me feel the embryonic nuances of womanhood

I admired my beauty through hers in secrecy.

That’s what women are,

They feel it, they adore it

They will certainly own it.

Most importantly never express it,cause they never wanted to.

Ugh I forgot something; she sticks it to either one of the edges.

So, half of my face look up to the pottu, turning myself into her.

Remaining half ensuring the insights of a pretty sassy and notorious girl.

I was really flattered after reading this!..say I got 600/1000 answers. Until now what I found is…Bindhi defines boldness ,beauty, strength, a jwel, protection, good fortune and more!

Anyways this ornamental mark between the eyebrows is eye catching and beautiful even from ancient as well as the modern culture!

PS : I guess the below picture is perfect for my topic, Rural vs Urban.