Introduction
The headlines of popular magazines have been filled with celebrities and pop stars starting "a new trend" by wearing the bindi. What is this bindi and why are so many people taking issue with this new fashion accessory? The bindi is far from being a new trend. The name bindi comes from the Sanskrit bindu which translates to "a drop" (Kanhai 1). The bindi is traditionally used to adorn the forehead of a Hindu man or woman. It is made of vermilion or sandalwood paste and is placed right between the eyebrows. The history of the bindi is a complex one and is shrouded in antiquity, which makes it difficult to judge whether this drop is actually a part of religious practice or if it just a historical part of Indian traditional attire. Some folklore suggests that the vermilion dot, which is mostly applied by married women, and the vermilion that fills the parting in a married women's hair signifies "the goddess Kali smearing her face with the blood of her male victims" (Kanhai 1). The red of the vermilion may also signify menstruation or childbirth. Traditionally though, the bindi was applied by both men and women. When applied by men it was used in the tantric practice of opening the chakras or simply as a symbol of religious affiliation.
What is cultural appropriation and how is it different from cultural appreciation? Cultural appropriation “involves members of a dominant group exploiting the culture of less privileged groups — often with little understanding of the latter’s history, experience and traditions”, while cultural appreciation is having an understanding of an aspect of another’s culture and partaking in said culture in situations where one is invited to do so (Nittle). In a country as diverse as the United States there have been a lot of accusations of cultural appropriation of things ranging from wearing kimonos as a Halloween costume to doing yoga as a fitness regime. It is often difficult to determine whether any group truly has ownership over an item or an activity and if they have the right to prevent other people from using that item or partaking in that activity. Is the bindi an inherently Hindu item and therefore is the use of the bindi by non-Hindus cultural appropriation?
Chakras
The word chakra is often used in dialogues about the benefits about meditation and yoga from a Hindu perspective, but what does it actually mean? Chakra is a Sanskrit word that means “ a wheel, a disc, or any arrangement in circular form or organization” (Johari 1). It is believed that there are seven major chakras:
Muladhara (the root chakra) – located at the base of the spine
Svadhishthana (the sacral chakra) – located in the genitals
Manipura (the solar plexus chakra) – located in the navel
Anahata (the heart chakra) – located in the heart
Vishuddha (the throat chakra) – located in the throat
Ajna (the third eye chakra) – located between the eyebrows
Sahasrara (the crown chakra) – located on the forehead
These chakras are thought to be “psychic centers of transformation that enable one to move towards an enlightened state of being” and are used in tantric and yogic practices (Johari 1). Activating these chakras through yoga and meditation allows one to wake the dormant spiritual energy called Kundalini and free oneself from the illusion of the world, maya.
The placement of the bindi between the eyebrows is related to activating the ajna chakra. The ajna chakra is the place where meditation is focused in tantric practices (Johari 134). The ajna chakra is represented by a lotus with two flowers, which symbolizes the end of duality. Traditionally Hindus wore vermillion on this spot to activate this chakra and help them focus their meditation efforts. It was believed that meditation on this spot could give healing powers, so this chakra was considered very important in early Hindu society.
Early Hindu society was segregated by a rigid caste system. The caste system is a model for dividing society by profession. At the top of the system were the priests, known as brahmins. Throughout the early history of Indic culture only brahmins participated in practices such as yoga, so how did the bindi spread throughout society? There is also a large amount of diversity within Hinduism that discredits the belief that the bindi is tied exclusively to this tantric practice of opening the chakras. There are many schools of though in Hinduism that are dualistic and many Hindus known as householders are not concerned with attaining enlightenment or moksha. Though kundalini yoga is not practiced by all Hindus, the concept of the third eye as a powerful place of the body exists among most Hindus. The third eye is seen as the focus of spiritual energy and a way into the soul or atman of a person (Babb 120). Although the third eye is an important concept in Hinduism, it is not found exclusively in Hinduism. The concept arises in Taoism and various other religions in China, but Hindus are the only ones to mark the spot with a bindi.
What is cultural appropriation and how is it different from cultural appreciation? Cultural appropriation “involves members of a dominant group exploiting the culture of less privileged groups — often with little understanding of the latter’s history, experience and traditions”, while cultural appreciation is having an understanding of an aspect of another’s culture and partaking in said culture in situations where one is invited to do so (Nittle). In a country as diverse as the United States there have been a lot of accusations of cultural appropriation of things ranging from wearing kimonos as a Halloween costume to doing yoga as a fitness regime. It is often difficult to determine whether any group truly has ownership over an item or an activity and if they have the right to prevent other people from using that item or partaking in that activity. Is the bindi an inherently Hindu item and therefore is the use of the bindi by non-Hindus cultural appropriation?
Chakras
The word chakra is often used in dialogues about the benefits about meditation and yoga from a Hindu perspective, but what does it actually mean? Chakra is a Sanskrit word that means “ a wheel, a disc, or any arrangement in circular form or organization” (Johari 1). It is believed that there are seven major chakras:
Muladhara (the root chakra) – located at the base of the spine
Svadhishthana (the sacral chakra) – located in the genitals
Manipura (the solar plexus chakra) – located in the navel
Anahata (the heart chakra) – located in the heart
Vishuddha (the throat chakra) – located in the throat
Ajna (the third eye chakra) – located between the eyebrows
Sahasrara (the crown chakra) – located on the forehead
These chakras are thought to be “psychic centers of transformation that enable one to move towards an enlightened state of being” and are used in tantric and yogic practices (Johari 1). Activating these chakras through yoga and meditation allows one to wake the dormant spiritual energy called Kundalini and free oneself from the illusion of the world, maya.
The placement of the bindi between the eyebrows is related to activating the ajna chakra. The ajna chakra is the place where meditation is focused in tantric practices (Johari 134). The ajna chakra is represented by a lotus with two flowers, which symbolizes the end of duality. Traditionally Hindus wore vermillion on this spot to activate this chakra and help them focus their meditation efforts. It was believed that meditation on this spot could give healing powers, so this chakra was considered very important in early Hindu society.
Early Hindu society was segregated by a rigid caste system. The caste system is a model for dividing society by profession. At the top of the system were the priests, known as brahmins. Throughout the early history of Indic culture only brahmins participated in practices such as yoga, so how did the bindi spread throughout society? There is also a large amount of diversity within Hinduism that discredits the belief that the bindi is tied exclusively to this tantric practice of opening the chakras. There are many schools of though in Hinduism that are dualistic and many Hindus known as householders are not concerned with attaining enlightenment or moksha. Though kundalini yoga is not practiced by all Hindus, the concept of the third eye as a powerful place of the body exists among most Hindus. The third eye is seen as the focus of spiritual energy and a way into the soul or atman of a person (Babb 120). Although the third eye is an important concept in Hinduism, it is not found exclusively in Hinduism. The concept arises in Taoism and various other religions in China, but Hindus are the only ones to mark the spot with a bindi.
Spread Throughout South Asia
One of the counterarguments against the statement that the bindi is exclusively Hindu is the fact that many non-Hindus throughout South Asia wear the bindi. The concept of chakras and the third eye appears in both Sikhism and Jainism and both religions originated in the South Asian subcontinent, so it is not surprising that the act of highlighting the third eye chakra with a bindi is found in both religions. In addition to finding adherents of Indian religions wearing a bindi, one can find a Muslim Bengali woman with a bright pink, circular bindi adorning her forehead as she enters a mosque or devout Catholic wearing a small bindi with traditional attire for a family wedding. In South Asia nobody would bat an eye upon seeing such a sight. The bindi is a part of South Asian culture that is associated with more traditional events and festivities. Though Hindu, Sikh, and Jain men and women may be seen across South Asia with a bindi on a daily basis, some even while wearing western styles of clothing, members of religions that originated outside of South Asia tend to wear them on days that are deemed more cultural and require traditional dress.
Islam
The bindi is certainly worn by women who belong to faiths other than Hinduism, but what is the stance of these religions on this behavior? Many Islamic leaders consider the bindi to be an item that is associated with Hinduism and therefore should not be worn. A hadith attributed to the Prophet Muhammad reads, "He who copies any people is one of them!” (Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020). Many Muslim leaders interpret this as a prohibition against the use of symbols of other religions, including the bindi. The bindi is still worn by Muslims across South Asia as a fashion accessory or as a vital component in traditional attire despite the protest from religious leaders. Though the bindi does not have any religious significance to these Muslim South Asians, it is worn because it is a part of the greater Indian culture.
Christianity
In 2007 the Roman Catholic Church released the New Community Bible which is an illustrated bible produced for Indians (Westhead). This Bible includes illustrations that depict the Virgin Mary donning a sari and a bindi and has references to many popular Hindu texts. Upon release, this version of the Bible was met with criticisms from both Hindu groups and Protestant Christian groups. The Catholic Church then released a second version of that removed the references to Hinduism, but kept the Indian style illustrations. The aim of this Indianized Bible seems to be to encourage the growth of Christianity by making it seem less foreign. Therefore the images of the Virgin Mary wearing traditional Indian garb may be seen as a ploy to attract new followers, but they clearly show that the Catholic Church sees the bindi as a cultural icon, not a religious Hindu symbol.
Modern India
Many sects of Hinduism require both male and female adherents wear a bindi to represent their faith and/or for mystical purposes. One such sect that is popular in the western state of Gujarat is BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. According to the BAPS website, “the tilak-chandlo has been a Hindu tradition, especially in the Vaishnav Sampraday, for thousands of years as a symbol of victory, auspiciousness, and belonging to a particular faith” (BAPS). The webpage goes on to explain that the particular faith is the Hindu Sanatan Dharma and that the tilak and chandlo, which is what the bindi is called in Gujarati, can also enhance the spiritual character of wearers (BAPS). Many Swaminarayans can be seen wearing this tilak-chandlo combination on a daily basis in both India and the United States. In the broader Vaishnav sect of Hinduism, the bindi is applied to both men and women during religious pujas, but only women are expected to wear them on a more frequent basis. For example, when attending services at a temple, women are expected to wear bindis while men are not, but during the course of the services the temple priest may apply a vermilion or sandalwood paste bindi to both men and women.
Caribbean Hindus
During the period of the British Raj in India, many Indians were transported to the Caribbean countries of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname to work as indentured labor in the sugar plantations (East Indians of the Caribbean). These Indians brought aspects of their culture and religion with them to the West and their descendants have maintained many traditions. One of the traditions that remains is the wearing of traditional Indian clothing during religious events and celebrations. The religious importance and the traditional rationale behind the bindi are of little importance to these Caribbean Hindus (Kanhai 2). The bindi represents a way for the descendants to a connection to their culture and it is used as a "visually prominent marking as a symbol of healing and affirmation within family and community, and in the presence of the divine" (Kanhai 2).
Though the bindi is still used in many religious traditions across the sects of Hinduism, many Hindus wear the it as a fashion accessory. Bindis can be bought at any store along the streets of India in packs that come with different colors and designs, although unlike the ones that can be purchased in America these bindis are priced very cheaply to make them accessible to people in all levels of society. These bindis are stickers and do not include any of the traditional ingredients of sandalwood paste or red saffron powder (Kanhai 2). These bindis are worn exclusively by women and girls and the style of the bindi can vary by the occasion: bridal bindis tend to be more intricate and cover a larger part of the forehead while bindis for small gatherings or religious events tend to be small and placed right between the eyebrows. If the religious significance of bindis is being reduced to fashion in India, then why can it not be used in the West? Furthermore, if the sticker bindis that are so popular in the West are not used for religious purposes, how can they be considered the property of Hinduism?
Islam
The bindi is certainly worn by women who belong to faiths other than Hinduism, but what is the stance of these religions on this behavior? Many Islamic leaders consider the bindi to be an item that is associated with Hinduism and therefore should not be worn. A hadith attributed to the Prophet Muhammad reads, "He who copies any people is one of them!” (Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020). Many Muslim leaders interpret this as a prohibition against the use of symbols of other religions, including the bindi. The bindi is still worn by Muslims across South Asia as a fashion accessory or as a vital component in traditional attire despite the protest from religious leaders. Though the bindi does not have any religious significance to these Muslim South Asians, it is worn because it is a part of the greater Indian culture.
Christianity
In 2007 the Roman Catholic Church released the New Community Bible which is an illustrated bible produced for Indians (Westhead). This Bible includes illustrations that depict the Virgin Mary donning a sari and a bindi and has references to many popular Hindu texts. Upon release, this version of the Bible was met with criticisms from both Hindu groups and Protestant Christian groups. The Catholic Church then released a second version of that removed the references to Hinduism, but kept the Indian style illustrations. The aim of this Indianized Bible seems to be to encourage the growth of Christianity by making it seem less foreign. Therefore the images of the Virgin Mary wearing traditional Indian garb may be seen as a ploy to attract new followers, but they clearly show that the Catholic Church sees the bindi as a cultural icon, not a religious Hindu symbol.
Modern India
Many sects of Hinduism require both male and female adherents wear a bindi to represent their faith and/or for mystical purposes. One such sect that is popular in the western state of Gujarat is BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. According to the BAPS website, “the tilak-chandlo has been a Hindu tradition, especially in the Vaishnav Sampraday, for thousands of years as a symbol of victory, auspiciousness, and belonging to a particular faith” (BAPS). The webpage goes on to explain that the particular faith is the Hindu Sanatan Dharma and that the tilak and chandlo, which is what the bindi is called in Gujarati, can also enhance the spiritual character of wearers (BAPS). Many Swaminarayans can be seen wearing this tilak-chandlo combination on a daily basis in both India and the United States. In the broader Vaishnav sect of Hinduism, the bindi is applied to both men and women during religious pujas, but only women are expected to wear them on a more frequent basis. For example, when attending services at a temple, women are expected to wear bindis while men are not, but during the course of the services the temple priest may apply a vermilion or sandalwood paste bindi to both men and women.
Caribbean Hindus
During the period of the British Raj in India, many Indians were transported to the Caribbean countries of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname to work as indentured labor in the sugar plantations (East Indians of the Caribbean). These Indians brought aspects of their culture and religion with them to the West and their descendants have maintained many traditions. One of the traditions that remains is the wearing of traditional Indian clothing during religious events and celebrations. The religious importance and the traditional rationale behind the bindi are of little importance to these Caribbean Hindus (Kanhai 2). The bindi represents a way for the descendants to a connection to their culture and it is used as a "visually prominent marking as a symbol of healing and affirmation within family and community, and in the presence of the divine" (Kanhai 2).
Though the bindi is still used in many religious traditions across the sects of Hinduism, many Hindus wear the it as a fashion accessory. Bindis can be bought at any store along the streets of India in packs that come with different colors and designs, although unlike the ones that can be purchased in America these bindis are priced very cheaply to make them accessible to people in all levels of society. These bindis are stickers and do not include any of the traditional ingredients of sandalwood paste or red saffron powder (Kanhai 2). These bindis are worn exclusively by women and girls and the style of the bindi can vary by the occasion: bridal bindis tend to be more intricate and cover a larger part of the forehead while bindis for small gatherings or religious events tend to be small and placed right between the eyebrows. If the religious significance of bindis is being reduced to fashion in India, then why can it not be used in the West? Furthermore, if the sticker bindis that are so popular in the West are not used for religious purposes, how can they be considered the property of Hinduism?
Early Hindu American Experiences
Though the bindi is gaining wider acceptance as fashion throughout the West, and specifically in the Untied States, people of South Asian decent are not enjoying the same acceptance. Indian immigration to the United States began in the late 1800s with the first Sikh immigrants. From 1917 to 1946 Indians were barred from immigration and the people of Indian decent already living in the United States were prevented from obtaining citizenship. There have been many instances of racial bias against “Hindus” from the time when the first immigrants came to this country up until the present day. In the past most people of South Asian decent were called Hindus and attacked as such, though now many South Asians are attacked for being perceived as Muslims.
Dotbusters
A famous instance of violent discrimination against South Asians occurred in Jersey City in the 1980s (Marriot). A gang called the Dotbusters believed that Indian immigrants were “a week [sic] race physically and mentally” and attempted to rid Jersey City of any person of South Asian origin by intimidating them, destroying their property, or in some extreme cases by murdering them (Marriot). The group’s name originates from the use of the bindi by Hindu women and the comedy film, Ghostbusters. There are few visible markers of a Hindu man or woman and the bindi is one of the few ones that is obvious to non-South Asians. Many Indians at the time reported being too afraid to wearing their traditional Indian clothing. According to the NY Times a gynecologist who had lived in the area for twenty-one years had stopped wearing her bindi out of fear of an attack by the Dotbusters.
Less violent instances of discrimination against Hindus based on the bindi occur on a daily basis. Fear of job discrimination or of cruel teasing in schools and in public have forced many Hindus to abandon the tradition, whether religious or not, of wearing the bindi. Why is it that when South Asians wear a part of their culture they are ridiculed while stars such as Selena Gomez are praised for being creative and hip?
Dotbusters
A famous instance of violent discrimination against South Asians occurred in Jersey City in the 1980s (Marriot). A gang called the Dotbusters believed that Indian immigrants were “a week [sic] race physically and mentally” and attempted to rid Jersey City of any person of South Asian origin by intimidating them, destroying their property, or in some extreme cases by murdering them (Marriot). The group’s name originates from the use of the bindi by Hindu women and the comedy film, Ghostbusters. There are few visible markers of a Hindu man or woman and the bindi is one of the few ones that is obvious to non-South Asians. Many Indians at the time reported being too afraid to wearing their traditional Indian clothing. According to the NY Times a gynecologist who had lived in the area for twenty-one years had stopped wearing her bindi out of fear of an attack by the Dotbusters.
Less violent instances of discrimination against Hindus based on the bindi occur on a daily basis. Fear of job discrimination or of cruel teasing in schools and in public have forced many Hindus to abandon the tradition, whether religious or not, of wearing the bindi. Why is it that when South Asians wear a part of their culture they are ridiculed while stars such as Selena Gomez are praised for being creative and hip?
Popular Culture
Counter Culture Movement
How did the bindi go from being a strange, foreign accessory to being a popular trend? The acceptance of the bindi in American popular culture is a part of a greater trend of incorporating Eastern religions into a American society that is perceived to lack culture and traditions. Hinduism spread to America with the first wave of Indian immigrants and with the teachings of various gurus 1960s and beyond. The American counterculture movement was very accepting of the teachings of these gurus. They were tired of the overly rational and scientific society that existed in America at that point and began to accept Eastern religions. As men and women converted to Hinduism they began to incorporate aspects of Hindu and Indian culture into their lives. One of these aspects was the bindi. Thus, in the beginning the bindi remained a part of Hindu culture, though many of the people who converted to Hinduism in this period of time were not proper practitioners of the religion.
How did the bindi go from being a strange, foreign accessory to being a popular trend? The acceptance of the bindi in American popular culture is a part of a greater trend of incorporating Eastern religions into a American society that is perceived to lack culture and traditions. Hinduism spread to America with the first wave of Indian immigrants and with the teachings of various gurus 1960s and beyond. The American counterculture movement was very accepting of the teachings of these gurus. They were tired of the overly rational and scientific society that existed in America at that point and began to accept Eastern religions. As men and women converted to Hinduism they began to incorporate aspects of Hindu and Indian culture into their lives. One of these aspects was the bindi. Thus, in the beginning the bindi remained a part of Hindu culture, though many of the people who converted to Hinduism in this period of time were not proper practitioners of the religion.
Pop Culture Movement
The current trend of celebrities wearing the bindi and making it popular can be traced back to the 1990s. As Indian culture mixed with popular culture in areas such as music and food, celebrities began to use Indian apparel as a means of keeping up with the trend. Gwen Stefani was one of the more famous wearers of the bindi in this time period (Elan). In the 2010s pop stars brought back the trend of wearing the bindi. This time it represented being spiritual or one with nature, similarly to its purpose in the 1960s. Stars like Julia Roberts who have converted to Hinduism after going through a spiritual awakening have slightly aided in the popularization the bindi in the beginning of the revival of the trend, but it was pop stars like Iggy Azalea and Selena Gomez who made the biggest impact on the current trend of bindi wearing (Elan).
In the past few years the bindi has once again grown away from its spiritual roots and has simply become a way of being trendy. Music festivals are filled with middle and upper middle class Americans combining Native American headdresses with the bindi as a way to stand out and seem more distant from the mainstream culture (Aran). The irony in this stance of many bindi wearers is that packets of bindis are now available for sale at store such as Topshop and Claire’s Accessories. This ancient Hindu “dot” that has been traditionally made with easily accessible and cheap materials has been commodified and branded. The bindi has been completely decontextualized and turned into a source of revenue instead of spiritual enlightenment or of religious pride. This item from Hindu culture is brought into American society, stripped of all of its significance to Hindus, and through ignorance is turned into a nothing but the latest trend.
The current trend of celebrities wearing the bindi and making it popular can be traced back to the 1990s. As Indian culture mixed with popular culture in areas such as music and food, celebrities began to use Indian apparel as a means of keeping up with the trend. Gwen Stefani was one of the more famous wearers of the bindi in this time period (Elan). In the 2010s pop stars brought back the trend of wearing the bindi. This time it represented being spiritual or one with nature, similarly to its purpose in the 1960s. Stars like Julia Roberts who have converted to Hinduism after going through a spiritual awakening have slightly aided in the popularization the bindi in the beginning of the revival of the trend, but it was pop stars like Iggy Azalea and Selena Gomez who made the biggest impact on the current trend of bindi wearing (Elan).
In the past few years the bindi has once again grown away from its spiritual roots and has simply become a way of being trendy. Music festivals are filled with middle and upper middle class Americans combining Native American headdresses with the bindi as a way to stand out and seem more distant from the mainstream culture (Aran). The irony in this stance of many bindi wearers is that packets of bindis are now available for sale at store such as Topshop and Claire’s Accessories. This ancient Hindu “dot” that has been traditionally made with easily accessible and cheap materials has been commodified and branded. The bindi has been completely decontextualized and turned into a source of revenue instead of spiritual enlightenment or of religious pride. This item from Hindu culture is brought into American society, stripped of all of its significance to Hindus, and through ignorance is turned into a nothing but the latest trend.
South Asian Voices
Many Hindu groups such as The Universal Society of Hinduism have publically condemned the use of the bindi by non-Hindus and non-South Asians on religious and cultural grounds. Many independent South Asian youths have also opened up on the subject and started movements such as the #ReclaimTheBindi movement that was popular on social media. The movement started on the website tumblr. Many of the South Asian voices complained that while South Asians were not fully accepted into American society, European Americans wanted to take their culture. This is an issue that has persisted in the South Asian community from the first wave of immigrants to the present time period. Immigrants from European countries are more easily accepted as American than immigrants from Asia. The majority of Americans are white European Americans whose ancestors emigrated from Europe. Within one generation, the European Americans can blend easily into American society. Asian Americans face a more difficult task because though second generation of Asian Americans do not have the accents that their parents did, they inherit their ancestor's brown skin and their foreign religions (Bhatia 13).
The goal of the movement was to flood the pages of the tumblr tag “bindi” with images of South Asian faces celebrating their culture. These users were now competing with European Americans for visibility in spheres that have traditionally been a part of their own culture. Acceptance of South Asians and representation of South Asians in American society is deemed so important by these youths because many of the attacks against Indian Americans can be attributed to the perception that Indian Americans are not true Americans. The Dotbusters operated on the assumption that all people who were perceived as Hindu were not American and should be forced to go back to their country by whatever means necessary. More recently, an elderly Indian man was assaulted by the police and left paralyzed while walking in his neighborhood because he was perceived to be a threat. The simultaneous rejection of South Asians in American culture and the use of Hindu symbols and icons has been a theme in America since the 1980s. It is argued that as long as South Asians are made fun of for their ethnic foods or for wearing their traditional clothing, these items cannot be taken by European Americans for their entertainment; while South Asians struggle with their cultural identity, European Americans should not be allowed to take from South Asian cultures.
The goal of the movement was to flood the pages of the tumblr tag “bindi” with images of South Asian faces celebrating their culture. These users were now competing with European Americans for visibility in spheres that have traditionally been a part of their own culture. Acceptance of South Asians and representation of South Asians in American society is deemed so important by these youths because many of the attacks against Indian Americans can be attributed to the perception that Indian Americans are not true Americans. The Dotbusters operated on the assumption that all people who were perceived as Hindu were not American and should be forced to go back to their country by whatever means necessary. More recently, an elderly Indian man was assaulted by the police and left paralyzed while walking in his neighborhood because he was perceived to be a threat. The simultaneous rejection of South Asians in American culture and the use of Hindu symbols and icons has been a theme in America since the 1980s. It is argued that as long as South Asians are made fun of for their ethnic foods or for wearing their traditional clothing, these items cannot be taken by European Americans for their entertainment; while South Asians struggle with their cultural identity, European Americans should not be allowed to take from South Asian cultures.
Though there have been many calls against celebrities to remove their bindis and many explanations from fans as to why wearing the bindi can be considered offensive, many stars have continued these acts of cultural appropriation. Selena Gomez notably stated in a radio interview that she wears the bindi because her hit song at the time, Come and Get It, “has that Hindu, tribal feel and I wanted to translate that” (Aran). The song does contain some beats that sound reminiscent of the Indian tabla, but the use of Indian instruments does not explain Gomez’s need to wear the bindi. In this case the bindi seems to be used as a marketing tool. The song received positive reviews due to its “Bollywood themes” and the bindi helped in creating this mystical idea about the song which could aid in sales.
Conclusion
The bindi remains a hotly contested subject among South Asian Americans and Americans overall. While it is clear that the bindi does have a theological basis in kundalini yoga, the bindi has been used more as a cultural item or as a symbol of faith throughout history in South Asia. In modern Indian and among the Indian diaspora around the globe the bindi has been changed into a fashion accessory though it is still used in religious ceremonies. The bindi came to America at the same time as Hinduism with the first immigrants and with the gurus who preached Hinduism to others. Initially during the counter culture movement the bindi was seen as something that was somehow spiritual and connected people to divinity, but as time progressed the bindi became a mere fashion statement for the stars in American popular culture.
The bindi became commodified and lost all of its religious context and Hindu origin in the 2010s. Some see the acceptance of the bindi as the start to the acceptance of South Asians into American culture. As the bindi is made more popular, it is hypothesized that more South Asians will feel comfortable wearing this aspect of their culture in public. Others argue that European Americans are continuing a trend of importing eastern religions while simultaneously trying to keep South Asians apart from themselves. Whether or not the popularization of the bindi will bring acceptance of South Asians in American society is irrelevant in the argument that the use of the bindi by people who are not Hindu or do not have roots in the South Asian subcontinent is cultural appropriation. The dominant group in the United States, European Americans, have taken as symbol from the culture of a minority group and stripped it of all of its religious and cultural history. While the bindi may just be a fashion accessory for many Hindus, it is still very symbolic to others and is used in religious ceremonies across Hindu sects, so the use of it as a commercial product to fill a spiritual void experienced by European Americans is wrong and disrespectful to Hinduism and South Asians who have struggled to maintain their culture in face of the pressure applied by the dominant group to assimilate.
The bindi became commodified and lost all of its religious context and Hindu origin in the 2010s. Some see the acceptance of the bindi as the start to the acceptance of South Asians into American culture. As the bindi is made more popular, it is hypothesized that more South Asians will feel comfortable wearing this aspect of their culture in public. Others argue that European Americans are continuing a trend of importing eastern religions while simultaneously trying to keep South Asians apart from themselves. Whether or not the popularization of the bindi will bring acceptance of South Asians in American society is irrelevant in the argument that the use of the bindi by people who are not Hindu or do not have roots in the South Asian subcontinent is cultural appropriation. The dominant group in the United States, European Americans, have taken as symbol from the culture of a minority group and stripped it of all of its religious and cultural history. While the bindi may just be a fashion accessory for many Hindus, it is still very symbolic to others and is used in religious ceremonies across Hindu sects, so the use of it as a commercial product to fill a spiritual void experienced by European Americans is wrong and disrespectful to Hinduism and South Asians who have struggled to maintain their culture in face of the pressure applied by the dominant group to assimilate.
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