Bindi, body tattoos and other body beautification products have long been a part of the Indian culture; and with the continued growth of mass-produced products, this market is increasingly bigger and bigger. Traditionally, body beautification products were made with natural materials such as precious stones; body tattoos were natural material (henna) as well.

The bindi represents many things to Indian women; though traditionally it was a sign that one was a good and faithful wife, and still does in Northern India. Up until recently, bindi was a vermillion powder that women re-applied frequently; now however, they are available in many materials including synthetic jewels applied with adhesive.

Henna body tattoos (mehendi) are not only beautiful, but are of large significance in the life of a young Indian woman as well. Mehendi is even required to be worn at many wedding ceremonies; the reddish-brown colour symbolises luck and prosperity. The day before her wedding, the bride and her female relatives and friends begin the process of decorating her hands, feet, and palms with different patterns. Tradition also says that the darker the mehendi, the more prosperous the newlyweds will be; an (unintended?) advantage of making it darker is that the new bride isn’t expected to do any housework until the mehendi has faded.

Today there are a multitude of bindis, body tattoos and other body beautification products available; even people of non-Indian descent are wearing them. However, in many parts of India, these items still retain their spiritual and cultural significance.