It’s a Hindu tradition in India to put a black bindhi (dot) on the forehead of either gender babies. It is said to ward off the evil eye. The Sadu bottu or black bindhi is made with Saggubiyyam (sabudana) and a little bit of rice.
Since the newborn baby’s skin is sensitive so you can’t apply any sindoor or tika on their forehead. The black bindhi is made with simple natural ingredients so it doesn’t cause any skin irritation or redness on the baby’s skin.
My mom made it in India before coming to the US so don’t have the making pictures or video. But the recipe is very simple and easy to follow. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments or DM me on Instagram.
Sadu Bottu Recipe (DIY Black Bindhi Recipe for Babies)
Sadu Bottu Recipe (DIY Black Bindhi for Babies)
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet or Steel Pan
Materials
- 2 cups saggubiyyam (sabudana/sago pearls) (0.5 kg)
- 1/2 tbsp white rice (sona masoori rice) (optional)
- 3-4 tbsp water
Instructions
Directions
- Heat a steel pan or cast-iron skillet in high flame
- Once hot add sabudana and rice to the pan and keep stirring until the pearls turn black
- Make sure you turn the exhaust on, there will be a lot of smoke as sabudana melts in heat.
- Once the entire mixture turns black, turn off the stove and let it cool
- Transfer it to a blender, add 3-4 tbsp water and blend it to a liquid.
- Strain the mixture with a muslin or a thin cotton cloth.
- Transfer the strained liquid to a pan and cook till it becomes thick.
How to Store
- Once cold, transfer it into a bowl. The Sadu bottu is traditionally stored in coconut shells but it can also be stored in glass/steel/wood/silver containers.
How to Use
- When applying take little water on the finger and take out the paste with it and apply it on the forehead or cheeks. We use a backside of a matchstick or an earbud to apply the bottu so it's small and a perfect round 😀 it takes couple of minutes for the bottu to get dry, so the ideal time to apply is when the baby is asleep or when they are calm.
- It dries up very quickly and does not smudge at all. It can be easily cleaned with water while bathing the infant.
Notes
Like this post? Check out the other related posts HERE
Have you ever made sadu bottu before? Let me know in a comment below!
0 Comments