Tilaka Tapestry

In Hinduism, the tilaka, tilak or tika (Sanskrit: तिलक tilaka; Hindustani pronunciation: [t̪ɪˈlək] tilak) is a mark worn on the forehead and other parts of the body. Tilaka may be worn on a daily basis or for special religious occasions only, depending on different customs. Vaishnavas apply clay from a holy river or place (such as Vrindavan or the Yamuna river) which is sometimes mixed with sandalwood paste. They apply the material in two vertical lines, which may be connected at the bottom, forming either a simple U shape or with an additional marking in the shape of a tulsi leaf. Their tilaka is called the Urdhva Pundra tilak.