Maroon KumKum

Kumkum powder is made from grinding dried tumeric into a powder after which a few drops of lime are added. This gives it the bright red color. Kumkum is considered to be very auspicious by Indians and thus, used for various purposes on special occasions like wedding and festivals. Typically applied along the parted hair, it usually signifies a woman’s marital status. Easily applied by adding a few drops of water which turns the powder into paste. Application of kumkum Kumkum is most often applied by Hindus to the forehead. The reason for this particular location has to do with the ancient Hindu belief that “the human body is divided into seven vortices of energy, called chakras, beginning at the base of the spine and ending at the top of the head. The sixth chakra, also known as the third eye, is centered in the forehead directly between the eyebrows and is believed to be the channel through which humankind opens spiritually to the Divine”.Thus the kumkum is placed at the location of the body which is believed by Hindus to be the most holy. Common forehead marks using kumkum Saivites- Followers of Siva usually apply three white horizontal lines with a dot of kumkum at the center. Vaisnavs- Followers of Visnu make use of “white clay to apply two vertical lines joined at the base and intersected by a bright red streak.” Many times the white clay is applied in a U-shape. Swaminarayan- Followers of the Swaminarayan movement apply kumkum at the center of the forehead and in between a U-shaped tilaka. The tilaka is normally yellow and made from sandalwood.