Women Celebrate Sindoor Khela Ritual in Delhi, Bengal, and Tripura on Vijayadashami

New Delhi, October 21 (Daily Kiran) : On October 21, women across New Delhi, West Bengal, and Tripura participated in the traditional ‘Sindoor Khela’ ritual, celebrating Vijayadashami. This event signifies the conclusion of Durga Puja. Women adorned each other’s foreheads and cheeks with vermilion while offering prayers to Goddess Durga, seeking blessings and safety for all.

In Delhi, the Arambagh Puja Committee’s pandal buzzed with excitement as women engaged in the ritual. The vibrant celebrations also took place in Chittaranjan Park, a locality renowned for its grand Durga Puja festivities.

One participant expressed, “We are all Bengali migrants living here, and we come together like a family to worship Maa Durga.”

In Kolkata, West Bengal, women gathered at the Mudiali Club to perform ‘Sindoor Khela’ on Vijayadashami. Similar celebrations unfolded in Birbhum district, where women applied vermilion on each other’s cheeks, praying for the well-being and protection of their families and loved ones.

In South Tripura, women participated in ‘Sindoor Khela’ at Durga Puja pandals as preparations for the immersion of the goddess’s idol were underway. Priests completed the immersion rituals, and under the traditional ‘Dak Dole’ custom, women carried the sacred pot to the priest’s home.

‘Sindoor Khela,’ meaning “playing with vermilion,” is one of the most significant rituals associated with Durga Puja in the Bengali Hindu community. Celebrated on the last day, Vijayadashami, it marks the farewell to Goddess Durga.

The ritual begins with women offering vermilion to the goddess, applying it on her forehead and feet, and participating in farewell prayers. Subsequently, they apply vermilion on each other’s foreheads and cheeks, share sweets, and wish each other prosperity and happiness.

Traditionally linked to married Bengali Hindu women, this ritual carries deep religious and cultural significance. However, different communities may have various ways of participating, with some organizers making it more inclusive.

The tradition is rooted in the belief that during Durga Puja, Goddess Durga visits her parental home and later returns to Mount Kailash to her husband, Lord Shiva. She is welcomed like a daughter and bid farewell with great affection, reflecting the familial sentiments associated with the festival.

Thus, ‘Sindoor Khela’ embodies a blend of devotion, cultural traditions, and a spirit of unity, giving a poignant close to the Durga Puja celebrations. With Vijayadashami, the exchange of ‘Bijoya’ greetings begins, as people congratulate each other and seek blessings for happiness and prosperity in the coming year.