'KumKum' is the red dot Indian women place on their foreheads. It is believed that
the red colour in Kumkum gives immunity against hypnosis. Kumkum has also taken on
a symbol of marriage. During the wedding the groom places the kumkum on th bride's
forehead and at the center of the junction of the hair and forehead. He also ties with
three knots a 'Thali', a yellow thread, around her neck. The three knots signify the
acceptance of the woman as the man's wife, the joining of the two families and an
announcement of the marriage to the public. Though tradionally the Kumkum is a red dot
made at home from dyes, nowadays it is available in different colors, shapes and
designs as stick-ons. It adds a lot of beauty to the Indian woman.

For thousands of years in India, 'Kajal', a black eyeliner has been used to highlight
the lower eyelid. It is a mixture of black carbon deposits with wax, medicated ghee,
coconut oil, camphor, etc. Mothers usually put Kajal for boys and girls as a symbol to
protect the eye from evil. They also use it to make a black dot on the cheeks of
the child to add a slight imperfection to their otherwise most beautiful child.
This is called 'Drishti' and is again used to protect the child from evil and the
jealous curses of others.