Those are really neat! And inexpensive!

"Why do you wear them?"

For the same reason I glue stars, sequins, feathers, moustaches, cat whiskers, etc. onto my body. To complete a character, enhance a costume, etc. Having a big ruby-eyed skull glued to my head will be fantastic with my traditional burn night outfit (that now has a posse!).

Traditional bindis I'm not really into.

"Has that mass produced piece of sticky sparkle between your eyes ever given you any strength or wisdom??"

For many people I know, some sort of "third eye" adornment is indeed important to them, and a daily occurence, not just for parties.

I've read very, very little opposition to "bindis as fashion" in my years as a costumier (and most of it is from non-Hindus who think it is a cultural faux-pas).

/shrugs

Madonna can wear a cross, Gwen Stefani can wear bindis, hipsters can stretch their earlobes...it's a global world we live in.

good for you not wearing them if thats how you feel.

I however, like gluing sparkly shit to my face, its FUN, and FUN IS SPIRITUAL!

It's interesting - something strictly symbolic - like bindis (or flags) being used for other purposes always seems creative to me - not appropriating - well, ok appropriating but not in a bad way. Things like yoga and tantra being misappropriated for some sex thrill or to get fit and other materialistic ends irks me more as those aren't so much symbols of something but the practice of those things themselves - but maybe in some extended way practices are merely symbols too

But then, I'm only ever irked for the blink of an eye anymore - people are gunna do what they do and everything is an appropriation of something else - take what you need from this smorgasbord. I always feel like when other people bother me too much I'm really not paying enough attention to something going askew in me.