On the occasion of Vijay Dashmi, women bid farewell to Goddess Durga with a ritual known as ‘Sindoor Khela’ in Sainthia of Birbhum district on Tuesday.
This ritual takes place on the final day of Durga Puja, a major festival in India, particularly in West Bengal.
Vijay Dashmi, the last day of Durga Puja, saw married Bengali Hindu women apply sindoor on the forehead and feet of the goddess and offer sweets to her, followed by applying sindoor to each other’s faces.
Sindoor Khela is known as the ‘vermillion game’, and is celebrated by Bengali Hindu women. Traditionally, this ritual is intended for married women who are expected to follow a defined custom and procedure when taking part in Sindoor Khela in the belief that it will bring them good luck and a long life for their husbands.
Applying sindoor is important for all married women; on this occasion, they embrace that by celebrating ‘sindoor khela’. On this occasion, married women apply ‘sindoor’ to each other’s faces. It is believed that you will have a long married life if you have a greater amount of sindoor on your face.
Durga Puja is one of India’s most important festivals, and Vijaya Dashami marks the culmination of the festivities. Durga Puja is the most important event in West Bengal.
This is a significant day for married women, who look forward to it all year. People from the Bengali community offer vermilion to Maa Durga on this day. In addition, everyone in the huge pandal applies vermilion and wishes Durga Puja. This custom is known as ‘Sindoor Khela.’ After that, Sindoor Khela begins. In this, women apply vermilion to one other’s feet, while others apply vermilion to each other’s faces.