Jamshedpur women celebrate ‘Sindoor Khela’ with joy and tradition

Jamshedpur: The vibrant festival of Durga Puja culminated in a heartwarming spectacle on Sunday as women across the city took part in the traditional Sindoor Khela (Vermillion Play) before the immersion of Goddess Durga idols. Clad in stunning red-and-white sarees, married women gathered at pandals to bid farewell to the goddess, smearing each other with sindoor (vermilion) in a joyful ritual that symbolizes marital bliss and the victory of good over evil.

Sindoor Khela, a time-honored Bengali tradition, is celebrated on the final day of Durga Puja, also known as Bijoya Dashami. Married women apply vermilion on the goddess’s forehead and feet, offering her sweets as a final gesture of respect before immersing her idol in water. Afterward, they playfully smear the vermilion on each other’s faces, wishing happiness and prosperity in their marital lives.

At iconic pandals like CH Area and Sakchi, thousands of women gathered for the festivities, creating an atmosphere filled with color, laughter, and togetherness. Amid chants of “Asche bochor abar hobe” (Next year, we will celebrate again), the women participated in the rituals with fervor, marking the end of the festival with both joy and a sense of bittersweet farewell.

Speaking about the occasion, a participant said, “Sindoor Khela is not just about applying vermilion; it’s about coming together as a community and celebrating the spirit of womanhood and strength that Durga represents. It gives us the strength to face the coming year with positivity.”

While Sindoor Khela is traditionally observed by married women, in recent years, many pandals have opened the celebration to widows, unmarried women, and people of all backgrounds, making it a more inclusive event. This progressive shift reflects the evolving nature of the festival, which blends ancient customs with modern values.