New Delhi: Sindur Khela is a Bengali Hindu ritual in which women smear sindur on each other on Vijayadashami, the last day of the Durga Puja. On the day of Vijayadashami, following the traditional ceremony, married Bengali Hindu women apply sindur to the goddess’s forehead and feet and present sweets to her. After that, they put sindur on each other’s faces and exchange goodies.
Bengalis believe that Goddess Durga visits her abode on Earth once a year for five days, which we celebrate as Durga Puja. For Bengalis, Durga Puja is more than simply a religious festival. It is a celebration of a married daughter returning to her maika’s or mother’s house, therefore festive feasts feature fish and meat.
On Vijaya Dashami, the last day of Durga Puja, when the Goddess prepares to leave her mother’s abode and return to the Himalaya, a few rites are performed to say the Goddess goodbye. Sindur Khela is one such tradition that occurs before the Goddess embarks on her trip.
Because Goddess Durga is a married lady, and vermillion in India denotes a woman’s marital status, the Sindur is used to honour the Goddess’s married status.
Sindur Khela: History and traditions of this ritual
The actual date and location of the beginnings of this tradition are unknown. According to one version, the custom began approximately 200 years ago in the Durga Pujas of the zamindar homes to bring good fortune to housewives.
According to a second belief, Sindur Khela is as old as Durga Puja itself, dating back roughly 400 years. The ceremony is played like a game, thus the term Sindur Khela. Sindur Khela is recognised as one of the most important Vijayadashami rites.
During Sindur Khela, the ladies apply vermilion powder to the Durga idol’s forehead and gift her sweets before her Visarjana, which represents her return journey with her children and animals to Kailash, Lord Shiva’s abode.
Sindoor was traditionally applied to the foreheads of married daughters by Bengali mothers before they departed for their in-laws after visiting their paternal house. This use of the sindoor was seen as a type of blessing for ladies in order to enhance their marital relationships. Because Goddess Durga is revered as both a mother and a daughter, the gesture naturally extended to Durga idols as well.
Sindur Khela: The Universal Look
The indisputable traditional appearance of Sindur Khela is a white saree with a crimson border, and various variations of this dress have emerged throughout the years. Traditional jewellery is also worn with it. A Bengali woman’s shopping list for Durga Puja will always include a white saree with a crimson border for Sindur Khela, no matter how many different types of sarees she buys.
Bengali women wearing this saree appear to be royalty.
Sindur Khela: Significance
Sindur Khela represents womanhood’s strength in defending her husband and children from any harm. Bengali Hindu ladies pray for a long and happy married life for each other through the Sindur Khela ceremony. This practice is used to resolve family disputes and minor conflicts amongst neighbours.
Unmarried women and widows are not permitted to participate in the ritual, but a recent campaign by the Calcutta Times has revived the practice of just women – whether married, widowed, transgender individuals, or women from the red-light district – playing with Sindoor to demonstrate that this is a universal bonding for all women, all sisters, and is not limited to married women.