Sindoor: Is it merely a red powder?

Have you ever come across a red color in the parting of the hair of a married woman in India? What do you think it is? Is it merely a red powder that she puts on her head for a decorative reason only? Or does it have a deeper sense or significance? We can ask so many questions like this if we don’t have the correct knowledge of the thing which has real and deeper meaning and significance. No, it’s not merely a red powder tat a married woman puts on her head with a deep sense of respect, devotion and dedication.

This red powder is actually known as Sindoor or Vermillion which is synonymous to spirituality and auspiciousness. This Sindoor symbolizes the marital status of the women as the unmarried girls are not authorized to put it on their head. It also symbolizes that the husband of the woman is alive and she is enjoying his love, care and guardianship. Traditionally, the married women use this Sindoor at the parting of their hair which gives them an enchanting looks altogether. Traditionally the Sindoor reflects the marital status of a Hindu woman as no unmarried girl or a widow is allowed to put on Sindoor on the parting of her hair.

Tradition of Sindoor

The Sindoor represents the woman’s wish to have a long life to her relationship with her husband as it is believed that the woman put on this as a part of offering to the god where she prays for the longevity of her husband. A woman puts on Sindoor for the first time during her wedding ceremony where her husband decorated the parting of her hair. This ritual, known as ‘Sindoor-Dan’, is a very important part of marriage ceremony of almost all the communities of Indian origin. As a matter of fact, this ceremony is the most attractive and eagerly-awaited episode of any wedding ceremony. The ritual marks the end of the ceremony and the beginning of a new relationship between a man and a woman and as well as a relationship of one family with another one.

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Mythological Significance of Sindoor

Some people, who have deep faith in the Indian mythology, try to find the significance of Sindoor there also. According to them, Sindoor was also used by Parvati or Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva, in the parting of her hair. As Parvati is supposed to be the most highly devoted wife of her husband therefore She is believed to be the source of power for all the married women. It is believed that Parvati protects all the married women who put on vermillion on the parting of their hair by her grace and power. Besides this, it is claimed that some other great women in the history of India like Sita (the wife of Lord Rama), Draupadi (the wife of the five Pandava brothers and Radha (the beloved of Lord Krishna). These are the ideal women for all the Hindu married women.

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Religious use of Sindoor

Being a highly religious thing, Sindoor is used in different purposes during different festive occasions. Sindoor is an important item of worship for all the goddesses like Durga, Parvati, and Mahakali. Sindoor also plays an important role in the celebration of almost all the festivals like Durga Puja, Navaratri, Sankranti and Kali Puja. On the la

st day of worship of almost all the goddesses, the women bade farewell to her. On this occasion also women use Sindoor to mark the event of goddesses’ departure to her own place.