The tilak (or tilaka) is applied to the forehead — the seat of the ajna chakra or "third eye" — as a sign of auspiciousness, devotion, or sectarian affiliation. Vaishnavas typically wear the urdhva pundra, a U- or Y-shaped mark of white clay (often with a central red line), while Shaivas wear the tripundra, three horizontal lines of vibhuti (sacred ash), and Shakta devotees often wear a red kumkum dot. A tilak is also applied to guests as a gesture of welcome, to family members on festivals like Bhai Dooj, and to anyone receiving blessings after a puja. Materials vary — kumkum, chandan (sandalwood), vibhuti, and clay from sacred rivers each carry their own symbolism.