Forehead painting

Hi all!

I am in Pune for a couple of days, and am constantly approached by women trying to paint my forehead. I have not encountered this enywhere else in India, and am wondering what it is all about.Is this a normal thing in Pune? I have to physically force their hands away to avoid getting painted, and it feels very rude to do so. Is it? Or will they just demand money if I let them do it?

Thanks!

Are you talking about putting religious symbols on the forehead? It usually happens at the religious places and they do expect to put some money for this. Since you are foreigner, they would expect to get some more money with this. So, they would try constantly to do it. You can just ignore them. Although it looks like rude, I do the same thing as I do not like paying someone who misuse God to earn money. Of course, it is an individual's choice.

Like sushant said - I too think this might be happening in your visits to temples specially the godess ones during this Navaratri or maybe this happened during the Ganpati festival when you visited Ganesh temples or the ganesh idols on every corner of the road.
Then this is okay and not a everyday thing in pune too- this is specific to a festival in progress and you would expereince the same in most of India. Dont worry about being asked for money as this is not very likely (Cant rule out a possibility in some roadside pandals)

If this is happening anywhere apart from this say corssroads, Koregaopark etc then this is a money making thing and just say a stern no and walk away.

Yes, i guess it is a religious symbol. This happened in the streets around the train station, so i found it very weird. And it was not just one, but a lot of people. As you say, it may be because of some festival. I have avoided it so far

Around station - then its good not to entertain the scamsters. I hope you are having a good time in the city apart from the forehead painiting

this might be a good reference point:-

http://www.facebook.com/video/video....7104444&ref=mf

Since you are in Pune, you may want to keep an eye on Pune meet up thread. If you are interested, you can join in the coming meet ups.