The culminating event of Durga Puja, the Sindoor Khela, brought married women together in joyful celebration across every Durga Puja venue. Faces adorned with vermillion, the married women of the city flocked to the Durga Puja mandaps yesterday, on Vijaya Dashami, to partake in the Sindoor Utsav, bidding a poignant farewell to Goddess Durga after five days of elaborate puja rituals. Originating in Bengal centuries ago, women of all ages gathered to smear vermillion on Devi Maa's forehead, symbolizing her final journey as she departed from the universe after her five-day sojourn with mankind.

This cherished ritual has gained popularity among women from other communities as well. Witnessing a remarkable sight, a long queue of women from diverse backgrounds gathered at the NMBA Durga Puja venue on Tuesday to offer red vermillion to Devi Durga, seeking her blessings for enduring marital bliss. Explaining the significance of the practice, one devotee shared, "Mythologically, red signifies power, while vermillion is considered a symbol of feminine energy. Parvati and Sati, embodiments of ideal wives, were believed to have applied sindoor to their hair's parting. Devi Durga is yet another manifestation of Parvati. Applying vermillion to her, and then to each other, is a way of seeking divine blessings for our marital lives."

Speaking about their devotion, the women emphasized, "A married Hindu woman traditionally applies sindoor in her hair's parting as a symbol of marriage. We worship Devi as a mother, daughter, and even as the girl next door. Drawing strength from her in every phase of our lives, sindoor serves as a symbol of her power. By applying vermillion to Devi and then sharing it amongst ourselves, we seek well-being for our husbands." This sentiment was echoed by the ladies from the Navi Mumbai Bengali Association mandap, as they joyfully engaged in the Sindoor Khela ritual.