Member-only story
Wearing a Pottu
A pottu (பொட்டு) is a Tamil word describing a dot that many women and young children across the world wear on their foreheads between their eyebrows. It holds both religious and cultural roots. A black pottu is traditionally worn by babies or young unmarried women whereas a red pottu is worn by married women. However, when wearing coloured traditional attire, women may wear a matching pottu.
Unfortunately as a child I used to feel embarrassed wearing a pottu. I was afraid what others may think and the fear of being mocked overpowered my want to embrace my identity. However, my mum would always wear her red pottu every single day. If I ever saw my mum without a pottu, even to this day, I would tell my mum she looks like she’s missing a feature and beg her to go put on a pottu. Why did I not have this feeling when I’m looking at myself in the mirror? Why cannot I see that same beauty I see in others on myself?
Luckily, that all changed at 19 years old! I had moved to a new town and funnily enough it was a more European populated town where we were one of maybe three South Asian families, but we were the only ones wearing a pottu. For some reason I felt more empowered and more beautiful wearing my pottu in a town where no one knew me or my background. I loved wearing my jhumkas (described as princess-like) and felt I was finally bravely showing my culture, my identity and myself.
