NCERT · Class 10 · Hindi · Kritika: Mata Ka AanchalWhy did the child, Tarakeshwarnath, apply so much red 'Tripunda' (tilak) on his forehead in the chapter 'Mata Ka Aanchal'?

In the chapter 'Mata Ka Aanchal' by Shivpujan Sahay, the young protagonist Tarakeshwarnath, affectionately called Bholanath, used to spend most of his time with his father, performing daily rituals and religious practices. One such routine involved getting ready like his father, Babuan, who used to apply a majestic red 'Tripunda' (three horizontal lines) tilak on his forehead. Applying this tilak made Bholanath look very attractive and charming, resembling a small Bamania (Bhramin child), which filled his father with immense pride and joy. This act symbolizes the deep cultural and traditional bonding between the father and the son, highlighting the traditional lifestyle of a rural Indian household where children playfully imitate their fathers.