A maang tikka is a traditional piece of head jewellery that is worn by South Asian women on their wedding day or for other significant cultural events.
It is a centrepiece that is latched onto the forehead, attached to a chain that is pinned into the hair.
It has cultural significance and is aligned with Indian folklore. So after an image of Kim Kardashian wearing the jewel was spotted on her Instagram, many users called it appropriation.
It is not just a pretty jewel to Indian women. It has meaning.
The maang tikka is intended to sit on the forehead, the Agya Chakra – this is the third-eye, one of the six primary chakra in the body according to Hindu tradition.
This area signifies one’s capacity to control feelings and perceptions, thoughts, and actions are said to originate from the point between the eyebrows.
It is considered mandatory for a bride to wear a maang tikka on their wedding day to concentrate on their spiritual eye.
The spot where it sits, the Agya Chakra, also signifies the holy union of man and woman on a spiritual, physical and emotional level.
Traditionally, women wear a maang tikka for the first time on their wedding day. The wedding tikka may differ to one worn to another event, with two strings attaching it to the head.
The design varies among different subcultures. Brides in Rajasthan, for example, wear a borla, – a round shaped solitary maang tikka – while Muslim women wear a jhumar tikka, which sits on the side of the head.
The south Indian maang tikka, however, is much more elaborate.
Modern day brides or those going to a fancy event add extras to their tikkas which can include valuable stones such as rubies, jewels, or sapphires.
The tikka worn by Kim Kardashian seems to be a lighter version of a traditional one. She wore it to a Sunday church service.
Many feel that the ceremonial headpiece should be reserved for Indian brides and those who follow its culture.
Others are divided on whether it was cultural appropriation or not – something Kim has been accused of in the past, mainly for her hairstyles.
