Drishti Pottu

Drishti Pottu, as called in South India, is a small black Bindi usually applied on Babies and Toddler's Forehead and Cheeks to ward off Drishti (Unwanted Gazes). It is generally made by charring Sabuddana on a metal vessel; little water is added and made into a paste once it is blackened. The paste is then transferred to a half-broken coconut shell and is let to dry. A little water is added whenever the paste is needed to apply the Bindis.

The basic bindi pattern is a big dot on the forehead and another two dots on either side of the baby's cheeks. Few enthusiastic parents put up elaborate designs around the eyes on occasions.

Apart from its Drishti purpose, these bindis are all-natural, so they don't create any skin problems in the babies like chemicals. For now, it's the all-natural first makeup for all babies, and it is not going away anytime soon.

Photography @aswathyvinu7