Why do Indians wear a bindi on their forehead?

The most common answer to this question is that it indicates the marital status of a woman. This is especially true in northern India. The red bindi of the woman is said to bring prosperity and happiness to the family.

In southern India, girls and women, regardless of their marital status, wear a bindi.

However, a widow in India does not wear a bindi. She can, at the most, wear a black bindi on her forehead. The absence of bindi on a widow or the black bindi signifies her loss.

But the bindi is not just for women. Men too apply 'tilak' on their foreheads, which is another form of bindi. And these 'tilaks' have nothing to do with the marital status of men.

So, why do Hindus (both men and women) wear a bindi in India?

It is to signify and protect the third eye.

A bindi represents the third eye in humans for spiritual sight. This third eye is used to see things, which cannot be seen through physical eyes. The bindi helps us cultivate this spiritual vision. It stands as a reminder of the third eye.

Did you know, the great Hindu saints in the Himalayas, meditate by focusing their energies towards the third eye? It is not as easy as it seems. For normal beings like us, it is hard to continuously focus our energies to the third eye even for 3 minutes.

The day this third eye opens in an individual, will be the day he will attain enlightenment and get closer to God.

However, not wearing a bindi does not necessarily make any Hindu, a lesser Hindu.