by Dr Savita Nagpal
The long spell of Covid seclusion being over, I embarked on a mission to savour the flavour of all the festivities. My Bengali friend Shampa’s invite for Durga Puja was perfectly timed.
Tired of the usual drab “Covid wear”, I decked up, as best as a grandmother can. Armed with a definitely more resplendent Coleus plant, I set off to participate in Sindur Khela, which literally means ‘vermillion game’, and is a Bengali Hindu tradition where women smear each other with sindur on Vijayadashami, the last day of the Durga Puja.
As I entered Shampa’s home, there was a visual onslaught of lovely ladies dressed in white saris with red borders, wearing traditional jewellery. Two of us ladies didn’t quite fit in, not because we lacked in looks but because we were attired differently. As it turned out, much to everyone’s mirth, we were the only two Sikh girls!
Each of us performed “arati” and smeared the Goddess’ forehead and feet with ”sindur”. We then offered her sweets and “paan” Following that, we smeared “sindur” on each other’s foreheads and bangles. Finally all of us partook the Prasad offered to us.
Towards the end of the ceremonies, the air was rent with the sounds of conch shells and “Ululudhvani”, a resonating sound made by the ladies. All the womenfolk marched out of the house in a procession, carrying the beautifully decked idol of Goddess Durga with great reverence, for immersion in a designated pond.
Sindur Khela symbolizes the power of womanhood in protecting her husband and children from all evil. This ritual is a platform for resolution of squabbles within families and neighbours. According to commonly held belief, if a woman plays “Sindur Khela” by following the proper custom, she will never be widowed.
