A decorative mark or dot worn on the forehead in Indian culture, similar to a bindi; used in religious and cultural practices.
From Sanskrit bhUtá or Tamil pottu, referring to the colored mark or paste applied to the forehead as part of Hindu, Tamil, and South Asian traditions.
The bottu's color carries deep meaning—red signifies marriage or auspiciousness, black wards off evil, and gold indicates prosperity—making it a tiny portable declaration of one's personal and social status.
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