Tilak

In Dharmic culture, the tilaka (Sanskrit: तिलक) is a mark worn usually on the forehead, at the point of the Ajna chakra, or sometimes another part of the body such as the neck, hand, chest or arm

Tilaka may be worn daily or for rites of passage or special spiritual and religious occasions only, depending on regional customs

The term also refers to the Hindu ritual of marking someone’s forehead with a fragrant paste, such as of sandalwood or vermilion, as a welcome and an expression of honour when they arrive

Historically, tilaka were also used in other Dharmic cultures including Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, which were influenced by Hinduism and its spiritual and philosophical beliefs