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‘Sindoor’ holds immense significance in Hinduism – much before the bollywood movie ‘om Shanti om’ popularized with its its’ ek chutki sindoor ki keemat …
‘Sindoor’ is not just red, it’s also orange in many traditions. The orange ‘sindoor’ is mostly applied in the Purvanchal region.
Aishanya Dwivedi, the widow of Shubham Dwivedi, saw her husband’s photo and began crying on hearing that India has named the strikes against Pakistan Operation ‘Sindoor’. The Indian government has “connected with us on a personal level”, she said. ‘Sindoor’, the Hindi word for vermillion that married Hindu women apply to their foreheads, holds ages-old significance in Hinduism — much before the Bollywood movie ‘Om Shanti Om’ popularised with its ‘ek chutki sindoor ki keemat…’ dialogue.
Indeed, the ‘sindoor’ has immense ‘keemat’ (value) in Hindu culture. Many women in India grow up with a dream to see themselves apply this vermillion on their forehead and wear the traditional red bangles. As elders say, “These symbols of marriage light up a woman…the radiance of love becomes visible.”
When the ruthless attack occurred in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, Indians couldn’t control their tears, especially after the picture of a woman with wrists adorned with ‘chooda’ and sitting beside motionless her went viral. Her symbols of marriage were enough to let Indians know she was newly-married.
The 26-year-old woman lost her husband even before she could begin her new life. The haunting image peaked the anger of every Indian. Yes, ‘sindoor’ is that powerful for the citizens in the subcontinent.
What Is ‘Sindoor’ & Its Significance
This red dye has been used by Indian women for centuries and holds historic, spiritual, and medicinal significance. Traditionally worn by Indian women to signify their married status, ‘sindoor’ is first applied by a woman’s husband during the ‘pheras’ (ritual related to marriage) on their wedding day.
Some may not know but ‘sindoor’ is not just red, it’s also orange in many traditions. The orange ‘sindoor’ is mostly applied in the Purvanchal region, consisting of regions in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In fact, in some areas in Bihar, women even don pink ‘sindoor’.
Sindoor, in general, is seen as a symbol of good luck, fertility, and prosperity for the couple. It also represents the deep love, commitment, and devotion a wife has towards her husband.
The History Of ‘Sindoor’
The exact origins of the tradition are unknown, but female figurines with red painted partings dating back 5000 years have been discovered in northern India.
‘Sindoor’ is also mentioned in Hindu epics. In the Ramayana, theologians date to the 7th century BCE, Goddess Sita applies ‘sindoor’ for her husband, Lord Rama. Similar to the bindisindoor’s significance lies in its placement near the Third Eye chakra, or Ajna chakra, at the center of the head.
The Ajna chakra’s closeness to the brain links it to concentration, desire, and emotional regulation. Believers in the power of chakras think placing ‘sindoor’ here focuses a woman’s mental energy on her husband.
Does ‘Sindoor’ Have Medicinal Purpose?
‘Sindoor’ has been traditionally used for medicinal purposes as well. In Ayurvedic medicine, which has historical roots in Hinduism, red ‘sindoor’ powder is believed to have health benefits for women, including increasing blood flow to enhance their sexual drive – hence, unmarried women and widows are not permitted to wear it.
No Tax On ‘Sindoor’
Considering the importance of ‘sindoor’, the government in 2017 exempted it from taxes. This means that no GST is levied on the sale or purchase of the vermillion. The Economic Times noted that sindoor, along with bond and bangles, are classified as “essential” items and are therefore tax-free.
‘Sindoor’ In Movies
One of the earliest recognitions of sindoor’s significance is in Kishore Sahu’s 1947 film of the same name, which addresses the theme of widow remarriage. Traditionally, widows were often seen as a burden, and the logic suggested that a truly devoted widow would not reapply ‘sindoor’ for a new husband. However, the film ends with the widow’s desire to remarry being accepted by the other characters.
As she reapplies her vermillion, symbolizing her renewed marital status, she challenges the outdated beliefs associated with ‘sindoor’ application. Almost 30 years after the film’s release, The Illustrated Weekly of India praised this ending, highlighting Sahu’s status as a “socially conscious filmmaker.”
In recent times, the conversation about sindoor has evolved into 21st-century cyberculture, particularly within Bollywood. In a scene from the 2007 classic ‘Om Shanti Om’, heroine Shantipriya (Deepika Padukone’s breakout role) praises the red dye in her dialogue “Ek Chutki Sindoor” (That One Pinch of Sindoor): “A married woman’s crowning glory, everything a woman has always dreamt of.”
Desi Twitter has since humorously engaged with the conservative lyrics, transforming the scene into an iconic meme format.
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