Bindi comes from a sanskrit word bindu which means a point or drop or dot. It is applied in between eyebrows. Traditionally it is a powder which is made up of mixture of herbs that is applied using a finger on to the forehead at different times of day. In current times many different shapes and colors are available among which red circular shaped bindi in the form of a sticker is most commonly used as a symbolism.

Bindi in current times is also worn in different colors and shapes for an aesthetic appeal by some people, However, the real bindi is applied in between eyebrows just below forehead. Such bindi is a fine mixture made out of herbs like turmeric, saffron, edible camphor, ash, some special oils, lime and many other herbs.

It is not yet known how old the bindi is however, the statues of priest from Harappan excavation has bindi on forehead. Gautam Buddha’s( 563 BCE or 480 BCE per wikipedia) statues world wide are always depicted with a bindi. Many underwater excavations of Dwarka, and Bali sea contained statues with a bindi(Said to be dated atleast 5000 years old). MET museum in New York contains many statues dating atleast 2000-3000 years ago which have bindi on their forehead. In addition If you visit any of the oldest temples in Asia you will find statues of many prominant/central figures with a bindi on them.

I believe there is a strong undercurrent of combined media, movies and others means to shun Bindi from our mainstream society. 

Bindi wearing girl is shown in bad light and ‘not-fashionable’.
So young girls try to accept what is trending. But once the trend is reversed we should see many people putting bindi as a matter of fact in different walks of life. Like for example, how hijab is very acceptable bindi should also reach that status.

Yes. We believe Tilak, Vibuthi or what ever different forms of Bindu/Bindi we have in Hinduism all should be protected and preserved.

After all, all of those came from same source and might have some slight difference in purpose. We need to explore this deep differences and tell to mainstream masses.