Color communicates a ton, without saying a word.
Take women in India. Ever wonder about the meaning of the line of red powder, painted down the center of women's hair part?
Sindoor, used to paint the line, is made of kumkum or vermilion, a powder that is traditionally a symbol of fertility, strength and love. This tradition is more than 5,000 years old, as female figurines excavated from archeological sites were found with painted hair partings. As with many time-honored traditions in Hindu culture, there is a mythological and astrological significance to the symbol, as well.(
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Sindoor in the hair part has a different significance from the bindi, often worn on the forehead between the eyes. While the bindi is sometimes applied with the same sindoor powder, its meaning is completely different.
Sometimes the bindi is a symbol of religious affiliation, or a mark of a recent religious ceremony; sometimes the bindi is merely for beauty. It's also said to retain energy in the human body. But while anyone (including men and children) can wear bindis, only married women (excluding widows) may wear sindoor in her hair part.
During the marriage ceremony, the groom applies the powder to the parting of the bride's hair in a ceremony called "Sindoor-Dana" to show that she is now a married woman. This symbol, worn by wives, is also seen as the visible expression of a woman's desire and prayers for her husband's longevity. Others theorize that in Vedic traditions, the sindoor signifies that the wife is now under the protection of her husband and that anyone who harms her would find that their blood would be shed.(
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Good to know! I always like to know the origins of these colorful traditions. Any other color symbols you are curious to learn about?
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