So what is the significance of these colored spots on the doctor's forehead?
Wearing such a colored patch on the forehead is common in India. These are known as tillaka (Sanskrit: तिलक), tikka, pundra or bindi. Generally these color pastes are derived from sacred ceremonies in temples. The belief is to receive the blessing of the respective god with such a dot on the forehead. There are different colors and substances used to make these tikka, depending on the ceremony and god. Red, for example, is associated to the feminine aspect of the divine and sandalwood paste to Shiva. But red also has another meaning: it indicates that a woman is married. However, in this case the tikka is not placed at the level of the third eye, but rather at the hairline.