This is a thick, black, ointment, made of ground lead sulphide or antimony sulphide, which is used as an eye liner, a coolant, and protector against the evil eye .
Kajal is usually applied with a finger tip on the inner rim of the lower eyelid and sometimes on the upper lid as well. Though traditionally used by both men and women, today kajal is used largely by women. However children of both sexes are made to use kajal as a coolant and to protect them from evil. Indeed it is used for these reasons by Indians of all ages and faiths.
From the time a child is six days old, its mother applies kajal to its eyes and also a small black dot on the forehead to mar the child"s beauty. This "imperfection" is said to protect from evil.
Kajal can be made at home by mixing the soot of an oil lamp with clarified butter, while commercially it is available in small boxes or as pencils.