Dubai, United Arab Emirates – In remote villages in Pakistan, hundreds of years of history are told on women’s faces. With delicate lines and secret dots, Hindu tattoo art records stories of myth and protection. However, today, this unique tradition is in real danger of disappearing. A new generation prefers change and integration over preserving this beautiful heritage.
With practiced fingers holding a needle dipped in a mixture of charcoal and goat’s milk, 60-year-old Basran Jogi greets her two young clients, Pooja, 6, and her sister Champa, 7. On their foreheads and chins, tattoo dots begin to form, transforming into circles and triangles. Pooja’s face trembles before she falls silent. These moments were once part of a rite of passage in Hindu villages on Pakistan’s border with India. However, they are now rare.
Hindus represent only 2% of Pakistan’s 255 million population. As families move to cities, the new generation is choosing to avoid these tattoos.
“Our generation doesn’t like it anymore,” says Durga Prem, 20, an engineering student.
In the face of this shift, many mourn the loss of this tradition. “Unfortunately, we may be the last generation to see tattoos on women’s faces,” says Mukesh Major, a Hindu rights activist.
Anthropologists explain that these engravings were not merely decorations. They were symbols used to distinguish members of society and ward off evil spirits.
But for women like Jamna Kolhi, the tattoo remains a vivid reminder. “When I look at it, I remember my childhood friend who drew it for me and who passed away a few years ago.
These words carry a deep nostalgia for a cultural heritage that is slowly fading. It leaves behind stories that are about to be forgotten forever.
