NATCHEZ — When students at Cathedral took a peek into a foreign culture last week, the red dots worn on the foreheads of Indian people were suddenly cooler than Silly Bandz.

After Dr. Vidya Kamalapur delivered a PowerPoint presentation to students in grades 1-6 about the history and culture of India Friday, the children walked away with a red dot between their eyes and a fresh perspective on what might have been viewed before as a foreign oddity.

Kamalapur explained wearing the dots is a practice of the Hindu faith, but the dots also have universal meanings.

The space between the eyebrows is believed to be the weakest point in the head, and the dot is supposed to seal off the weak spot to retain sources of human energy and improve concentration.

In addition, Kamalapur said the area where the dot sticks is the site of thinking and memory, and the dot is supposed to protect those capacities.

“For Christmas, I’m getting a whole bunch of red dots,” sixth grader Jae Eidt said from his chair in the back of the multipurpose room.

Kamalapur, who is the mother of Cathedral students, second-grader Sami Dulam and fifth-grader Sai Dulam, wore a traditional red saris to the presentation rather than the scrubs she usually wears for her job as an anesthesiologist.

“What do you wear when it snows?” one student asked.

“We wear the same clothes, just like you do,” Kamalapur said.

“Do they have purses in India?”

Kamalapur responded that purses, and all other fashion items, exist in India.

Kamalapur explained how Indian tradition and etiquette are still important to culture, but the country is also highly advanced.

For example, Indian culture cherishes a deep respect for elders and requires young people to remain quiet at times until spoken to, but the culture also values education as one of its highest priorities and most sacred facets of life.

Indian culture does not allow people to step on books or paper with writing, for example.

“We don’t touch books with our feet because God gives us knowledge, and that would be disrespecting God,” Kamalapur said of the Hindu belief.

Fifth grader Jamika Davis said the importance of manners and the expression of respect and disrespect with feet were some of the aspects she found most interesting from the presentation.

Touching hands to the feet of the elderly in Indian culture represents a humbling respect for the older generation’s wisdom and the sacrifices they have experienced for sake of younger generations, Kamalapur said.

Elementary School Principal Shannon Bland addressed the students after Kamalapur’s presentation about the benefit of learning about foreign cultures.

She said Indian culture’s deep for respect the elderly can remind students to make eye contact and remember to say, “Yes, ma’am,” and “Yes, sir.”

“By learning about the similarities and differences (of foreign cultures) — you can see how you can benefit from those lessons and apply them,” Bland said.

After the presentations, students lined up to receive their red dot, called a “Bindi,” and enjoyed a traditional American snack of glazed donuts.

Even Sai, the guest speaker’s son, said he learned something from his mother’s presentation.

“I didn’t know India’s bird was the peacock,” Sai said.