‘Sindoor Khela’ rituals mark end of Durga Puja

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 15

Durga Puja was concluded today on the occasion of ‘Vijayadashmi’. The Bengali community living away from their homeland celebrate Durga Puja every year with much fanfare and gusto.

Women of Bangiya Samsad clad in red and white silk sarees today performed ‘Sindoor Khela’ rituals in the morning before the immersion of idol of Goddess Durga. The rituals involve application of sindoor on the idol of Goddess Durga and later, married women apply sindoor on each other.

Sweets were offered among community members before the visarjan.

“Last year, we had to give the Durga Puja celebrations amiss but this year we are vaccinated and safe, hence, celebrated the festival. It was a small gathering of people from the community and we all had a lovely time,” Sharmistha, a woman who participated in the rituals, said.

Enjoying his favourite Mishti Doi, Anirban Benerjee said: “It was not only a dessert but it was an emotion as it takes us back to Kolkata.”

It is a staple dessert of every Bengali and relished on every special occasion,” he said.

Getting emotional, another woman from the community said: “I may be wearing expensive clothes every day but the feel of this traditional Bengali saree is something different.”

“I love wearing this saree and whenever I go to Kolkata, I buy some of these,” she said.