Sindoor khela: the vermilion farewell of Bijoya Dashami

Sindoor khela (sindur, vermilion; khela, play) is the farewell ritual of Bijoya Dashami. Women first offer sindoor and sweets to the goddess, then smear it on each other's faces, until the pandal is a blur of red. It is a blessing for married life, a goodbye to Durga as a departing daughter, and one of the most joyful moments of the festival. In 2026 it takes place on Wednesday 21 October.

What it means

Sindoor in the parting of the hair is a sign of marriage for many Hindu women in Bengal, along with the red and white conch-shell and lac bangles (shankha and pola). In Bengali tradition, Durga is also Uma, a married daughter who comes home for a few days and returns to Shiva on Dashami. Women send her off as they would a daughter, with sindoor, sweets and tears, and then share the same blessing among themselves: a long life for their husbands and well-being for their families.

How it is done

Customs differ between pujas and families, but the sequence usually runs like this:

1. Boron. After the Dashami puja and darpan bisarjan, married women take a boron dala, a plate holding a lamp, sindoor, betel leaves, sweets and other auspicious items, and circle it before the goddess.
2. Offering to the goddess. They touch sweets and betel leaf to Durga's lips, apply sindoor to her forehead and the parting of her hair, and wipe her face with a betel leaf, as if drying her tears. Many do the same for Lakshmi, Saraswati and the Kola Bou.
3. Sindoor khela. The women then apply sindoor to each other's foreheads, partings and bangles, and soon on cheeks too, with laughter, ululation (ulu), dhak drumming and sweets.
4. Farewell. The idol is carried out for immersion, often with cries of "Asche bochor abar hobe" ("it will happen again next year").

Who takes part

Traditionally sindoor khela has been for married women. In recent years some pujas have made a point of welcoming widows, unmarried women and members of other communities, and in many pandals friends and visitors are drawn in. Elsewhere, especially in family pujas, the older practice continues. If you are a visitor, ask the organisers or join only when invited.

Also readBijoya Dashami

What to wear

• A white or cream sari with a red border (laal paar sada) is the classic choice, often worn with shankha-pola bangles.
• Choose fabric you won't mind staining: sindoor is hard to wash out of silk.
• Tie up long hair, and wear footwear you can easily slip off near the altar.

Tips

• Ask the time. Sindoor khela usually happens in the late morning or afternoon, before the idol leaves, but each puja has its own schedule.
• Protect your skin and eyes. Rub a little coconut oil on your hairline and face beforehand, and keep sindoor away from eyes and mouth. Some synthetic sindoor can irritate skin.
• Photographers: the crowds at famous pujas can be dense. Keep your distance, don't block participants, and ask before close-up portraits.
• Go early to popular pujas such as Bagbazar Sarbojanin and Sovabazar Rajbari.

After sindoor khela

The day continues with the immersion processions and Bijoya greetings: touching elders' feet, embracing friends and sharing sweets. See Bijoya Dashami, Bijoya Dashami wishes and the full ritual sequence.