Patna : The traditional Sindoor Khela ritual marked an emotional farewell to Goddess Durga at a Bengali Durga Puja pandal near Patliputra Golambar in Patna on Vijayadashami. Women from the Bengali community, dressed in traditional red-and-white sarees, applied vermilion to one another after offering prayers to the goddess.
The pandal echoed with devotional chants and festive music as the women celebrated the occasion while preparing to bid farewell to Durga after days of worship and festivities.
The ritual reflected the cultural traditions of the Bengali community, combining prayers for prosperity and family well-being with the emotional significance of the goddess’s departure.
Sindoor Khela Reflects The Tradition Of A Daughter’s Farewell
In Bengali tradition, Goddess Durga is regarded as a daughter who visits her parental home during the annual Durga Puja celebrations. According to this belief, she returns to her marital home on Vijayadashami after spending several days with her family.
Sindoor Khela is associated with this farewell. Women apply vermilion to the goddess and to one another, seeking blessings for happiness, prosperity and well-being in their families.
The ritual carries both celebratory and emotional significance, as devotees prepare to bid farewell to the goddess until the following year.
Women In Red And White Sarees Take Part In Ritual
At the pandal near Patliputra Golambar, women arrived in traditional red-and-white sarees and participated in Sindoor Khela after completing their prayers.
They applied vermilion to one another’s foreheads and faces amid the beats of traditional drums and chants praising Goddess Durga. Some women also danced, adding to the festive atmosphere and reflecting the cultural traditions associated with Durga Puja in Bengal.
The gathering offered a glimpse of Bengali customs observed during the festival in Patna.
Prayers For Prosperity And Family Well-Being
During the ritual, women prayed for peace, prosperity and happiness in their families. Applying vermilion to one another also served as an expression of affection and togetherness.
As the time for the goddess’s departure approached, the celebratory mood gave way to emotional moments. For devotees who had spent the preceding days participating in prayers and festivities, Vijayadashami marked both the culmination of the celebrations and the farewell to a revered figure.
Durga Puja Concludes With Farewell To The Goddess
For the Bengali community, Vijayadashami represents a blend of joy and sadness. Goddess Durga is worshipped as a daughter returning home, making her departure an occasion associated with the emotions of a family bidding farewell to its daughter.
At the Patliputra Golambar pandal, women performed Sindoor Khela and prayed for the goddess to return the following year. Preparations for the immersion of the Durga idol followed the ritual, bringing the celebrations to a close.
The ceremony marked the conclusion of the Durga Puja festivities, with devotees offering their final prayers and expressing hope for the goddess’s return next year.
