The bindi embraces a maximalist moment with new styles and uses

The bindi is experiencing a maximalist revival, evolving from a traditional mark to a versatile fashion statement. Younger people are styling it with stones, jewels, and gothic vibes, using it not only on the forehead but also as body jewellery, experts say.

The bindi, once mainly worn on the temples and around the face during weddings and celebrations, especially in the early 1990s, is now being reinterpreted by a new generation. "People are feeling more confident about embracing Indian aesthetics in their own way, and this generation is much freer in how they interpret and style traditional symbols," an expert said.

Prices for these embellished bindis range from ₹399 to ₹1,200, with some premium designs costing up to ₹1,000 or ₹999. The trend includes using simple wires that travel across the face, moving beyond conventional jewellery placements. "I started experimenting with the idea of taking a simple wire and allowing it to travel across the face rather than restricting it to a conventional jewellery placement," the expert added.

This approach treats the face as a canvas, allowing individuals to choose how they want to present themselves. "We are all a kind of canvas, and we can choose how we want that canvas to look," the expert explained. The bindi is no longer just a cultural symbol but has become a form of personal expression and jewellery. "When you can collect it, style it, reuse it and make it part of your personal expression, it begins to feel like jewellery," the expert said.

The fusion of tradition and self-expression is at the heart of this trend. "Tradition and self-expression can coexist beautifully," the expert noted. Younger people are also using bindis as body jewels, expanding their use beyond the face and temple area. "Younger people are using them as body jewels, too," the expert confirmed.

Overall, the bindi's transformation reflects a broader shift in how Indian aesthetics are embraced and styled by the youth, blending heritage with contemporary fashion.