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Are bindis available in Pakistan? Twitter responds with a resounding yes

Are bindis available in Pakistan? Twitter responds with a resounding yes

When an Indian analyst raised objections to the lack of bindis in Islamabad, many people swooped in to set the facts straight.
Updated 13 Jul, 2021

There is never a dull day on Twitter. Case in point? Indian activist and analyst Sonam Mahajan's tweet about the apparent absence of bindis in the markets of Islamabad and Pakistani Twitter trying to prove her wrong.

The analyst lamented that there are no bindis being sold in the capital, a fact that she'd come to learn through a Pakistani journalist.

"I recently learnt from a Pakistani journalist that you don’t find bindis in Islamabad and then, I spoke to a friend living in Riyadh and she told me that you get all types of Bindis there," Mahajan wrote.

"Can’t tell whether to laugh at Pakistan’s social fabric or to cry at its bigotry," she added.

She also posted a small clip from her talk with Pakistani journalist Arzoo Kazmi as context for her tweet.

Mahajan's replies were soon filled with irked Pakistanis who were more than happy to set the record straight.

"Ever heard of supply and demand?" a user replied. "No one wears bindis in Islamabad BUT you can still find them if you look properly. Your Pakistani journalist friend doesn’t know because she ain’t looking for them. Simple!"

Another user was quick to defend Islamabad as well.

"Just saw a vlog by Luke Damant visiting a jewellery stall in Jinnah market, Islamabad [where they were] selling bindis. [T]hey’re easily available, but [are] not common because very few women in Pakistan wear them."

The user highlighted how "most of Pakistan’s Hindu population is in Sindh where [bindis] are more readily available."

Another user asserted that bindis are easily available in Pakistan overall.

"Sorry to burst your bubble," the user wrote. "[B]indis are easily and readily available on this side of the border."

Soon enough, many people pointed out the availability of bindis in their own respective cities.

Lawyer Jalila Haider vouched for the bazaars of Quetta. "We have verity of designs here in Quetta," she wrote.

"Bindi are very common in Pakistan, even during Eid young Muslim girls wear bindi. I think you are misinformed or ignorant about Pakistan. I myself wear bindi showing solidarity with [the] Hindu community in their festivals."

Another user remarked that Lahore's Dehli Gate market was chockfull of bindis — and some interesting Indian products.

"Indian Bindis, bangles, Dabur products (Dabur Amla Oil, Dabur Red Toothpaste etc), HaldiRam's Soan Papri and many more Indian products are easily available in Lahore's Delhi Gate Market," he replied.

In fact, bindis are available in Punjab in general.

A user wrote, "[G]o to any thella with artificial jewelry and you will [find] plenty of bindis even in small town[s]. There are those hawkers who sell them even on bicycle[s] in the villages [of] Punjab. Set your facts straight."

People brought some comic relief to the conversation as well, pointing to a confusion that many faced when they first read the tweet in question — is Mahajan talking about the vegetable bhindi?

"I legit read it as Bhindi," a user replied.

If only Mahajan's Pakistani source hadn't dished out such unqualified facts without doing some research first. For anyone looking to make sweeping statements on Twitter, here's a suggestion — don't. But then again, would Twitter be half as much fun without these ignorant tweets to debunk and make fun of?

Comments

Irfan Jul 13, 2021 05:03pm
Never saw bindi in market. Nor is there need to please this woman. Our country our rules.
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ST Jul 13, 2021 05:10pm
Even if the bindi is not very trendy in Pakistan, whats the big deal? Is it a life saver, like an oxygen tank? Duh!
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NYS Jul 13, 2021 05:19pm
Oh "BINDI" not so common and it's not part of our culture so availability or non it's not a big deal similarly when you ask sandoor may be straight no ..it's not the matter of bigotry but majority and minority
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kaleidoscope Jul 13, 2021 05:35pm
Ignore this hate filled troll, not much good comes from. across the eastern border.
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Tadka Jul 13, 2021 05:39pm
Well y shd it matter , woman looking for cheap publicity thats all
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FMQ Jul 13, 2021 05:41pm
Non issue. Bindi is not a cultural or religious article for majority Pakistani women as it is across the border.
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Faiza JZ Jul 13, 2021 05:43pm
Not having bindi says something about the "social fabric" of a country? Who could have thought... Lol
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M. Saeed Jul 13, 2021 05:47pm
"— is Mahajan talking about the vegetable bhindi?" This was exactly my impression as well until I went through half of the article. But before your Bindis you should have asked for Bindiyas, to be more clear. Muslim women do not wear Bindiya which is a clear sign of Hindus.
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Irfan Huq Jul 13, 2021 05:48pm
@Irfan Do you have Mehdy do you have do you have baraatt do you have Mayoon where you got that from
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Jamil Soomro, New York City Jul 13, 2021 06:09pm
Sonam Mahajan Aur Bhi Gham Hain Zamane Mein Bhindi ke Siwa ?
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Fastrack Jul 13, 2021 06:20pm
She is a big BJP worker and Hindutva apologist and Muslim/Pakistan hater. Why discuss her?
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Fastrack Jul 13, 2021 06:24pm
So now we need to satisfy Hindutva zealots whose TL is nothing but hate for Pakistan/Muslims?
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haris Jul 13, 2021 06:45pm
Whether Bindi is available in Pakistan or not, it doesn't counter Delta Virus in your country. Stay safe and look into your own problems.
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Waheed Noor Jul 13, 2021 06:52pm
No hijabs are available in India or so my friend told me. Another friend who lives in Saudi Arabia told me it is not true as hijabs are available in India.
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Zubair Rahmani Jul 13, 2021 06:54pm
@STcomparing religious symbols to oxygen tanks? Its like comparing burka to polio vaccines. Bizzare.
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Zubair Rahmani Jul 13, 2021 06:55pm
Bindis are not available here because we are islamic country. She wants a bindi she can go Nepal.
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SachBol Jul 13, 2021 06:57pm
It’s not part of Pakistani culture. You don’t see women wearing bindis in Pakistan.
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Corruption fighter Jul 13, 2021 07:25pm
@kaleidoscope :Major overkill, poster!
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Corruption fighter Jul 13, 2021 07:27pm
@Irfan Ultra defensive! You might look around your country and find that Pakistanis are more liberal than your mindset allows, @Imran!
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Corruption fighter Jul 13, 2021 07:34pm
@Fastrack : There you go again on your tirade! You are the hater exposing yourself daily on this forum Please stop overuse of "hate" and practise it ,at least with care --if at all! Then your daily diet of BJP and Hindutva! Who put a burr under you?
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Chrís Dăn Jul 13, 2021 08:31pm
Bindi is something very romantic and pretty thing. I hope the lady got wrong info.
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Chrís Dăn Jul 13, 2021 08:31pm
@NYS whats our culture?
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Amer Jul 13, 2021 08:56pm
Is this news worthy ?
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Zakir Shah Jul 13, 2021 09:16pm
Even if they are not available in the market.. Is it really rocket science to make a bindi? All you need is some red sticky paper n tape? What's the fuss all about?!?
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Just Saying Jul 13, 2021 09:27pm
Why do I need Bindi when I can wear Burqa?
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M. Emad Jul 13, 2021 10:05pm
Bindi is NOT a Pakistani culture.
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Imran Jul 13, 2021 11:18pm
The Hindu media has dominated our youth and now these celebrities are further promoting it. What has become of us.
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Ibrahim S Jul 13, 2021 11:28pm
@Zubair Rahmani - are you sure, we are an Islamic country .
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Ibrahim S Jul 13, 2021 11:33pm
Why Bindi is irritating men in Pakistan . If a woman wants to put Bindi , would it be problem for men .
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Chrís Dăn Jul 13, 2021 11:34pm
@M. Emad is "mayun" or "mehendi" our culture or a beautiful inheritance from sub continent?
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Im Raan Jul 14, 2021 02:02am
@M. Emad Pakistan has only one culture: agriculture.
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Sentryman Jul 14, 2021 02:12am
@Irfan Indeed. And what would those rules be ...
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Faizan Jul 14, 2021 02:34am
These Indian bigots should focus on their own country. Pakistan has absolutely nothing to do with them, now or ever.
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Aftab Jul 14, 2021 02:45am
@M. Emad Yes our culture resembles with turkish culture than Indian.
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vin Jul 14, 2021 02:49am
@NYS What is your culture?
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Independent Thinker Jul 14, 2021 06:33am
Why would Pakistan have bindis which are typically worn by Hindu women? I don’t understand why a big fuss over it.
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Akil Akhtar Jul 14, 2021 08:53am
So finding a bindi in Pakistan is some sort of a standrad to judge Pakistan...what a joke.
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hussain Jul 14, 2021 10:47am
@Chrís Dăn what's your culture?
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Anonymouseee Jul 14, 2021 11:04am
Bindis is a hindu thing and we are proud Pakistani Muslims. We’d rather have chaddars and dupattas than bindis and saris.
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Fatima Aqeel Jul 15, 2021 11:18am
I think we minorities are really important in any country. Our minorities, and anything they wear, is a part of our culture too.
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Fatima Aqeel Jul 15, 2021 11:19am
I think minority cultures/populations are really important in any country. Anything that our minorities wear are an important part of our culture too.
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Aziza Jul 15, 2021 11:54am
@Ibrahim S Seriously?
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Waheed Noor Jul 15, 2021 11:42pm
@M. Emad Neither it is the culture of Bangladesh. But I have seen many Bangladeshi women (some, my relatives) wearing Sarees and sporting Bindis. Each to his own and who are we to question? Neither we are Arabs nor Hindus. Who are we then?
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nikhil Jul 19, 2021 03:43pm
@NYS are you sure? Pak had a considerable hindu population right after partition. I believe they are still there living happily and demanding bindis.
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