Sindoor Khela celebration was held at the Bengal Club Durga Puja in Shivaji Park, Dadar representing a colourful farewell ritual, taking place on 'Bijoya Dashami,' the concluding day of the Durga Puja festivities. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar
For 'Sindoor Khela,' married Bengali women, adorned in their traditional attire, congregate at pandals. Their purpose is to bid a fond farewell to Goddess Durga and her four children through the application of red vermilion, also known as 'sindoor,' and the exchange of sweets.
In the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, the Bengal Club's 'Sindoor Khela' celebration becomes a unifying event, where the Bengali community comes together to uphold their rich cultural traditions and express their devotion to Goddess Durga.
Before applying the vermillion to each other, the women ceremoniously apply 'sindoor' on the idols of the Goddess and her divine offspring, expressing their gratitude and reverence.
This cherished ritual finds its roots in Bengal and harkens back to a history stretching nearly 400 years, aligning with the origins of the Durga Puja tradition itself.
It is said that during the early celebrations, Bengali married women wanted to create a special farewell ritual for Goddess Durga and her four children. The act of smearing vermilion (sindoor) on the idols was born out of a desire to offer their love and devotion to the divine figures before their departure.
Over time, this practice evolved into the festive and symbolic Sindoor Khela observed today. Additionally, Sindoor Khela was also conceived as a way for women to strengthen their marital bonds and pray for the long and prosperous lives of their husbands. It's not only a religious act but also a celebration of married life and the collective spirit of sisterhood among Bengali women.
Durga Puja began on October 20 this year and culminated today with Vijaya Dashami or Dussehra. The Puja is celebrated with much pomp across Bengal and the Bengali community across the city celebrate the festivities with equal fervour.
Bengal Club of Mumbai has been hosting the Durga Puja for over eight decades and almost lakhs of people visit the pandal in Shivaji Park to seek blessings of the Goddess Durga.
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