Sindur Khela at pandals on last day of Durga Puja

KOLKATA: Several puja committees organised all-embracing sindur khela or vermillion ceremony on Dashami on the last day of Durga Puja.

During Sindur Khela, married women put vermilion on Durga's forehead and feet and go onto apply it on the countenance of other married women around them but for the past couple of years several puja committees have shifted from tradition to include unmarried women.

At Ballygunge Cultural Association in south Kolkata anybody can participate in the ceremony. “Besides our own members several other ladies from outside participate in the sindoor khela. There is no criteria which bars anybody from being a part of this aspect of festivity,” said Anjan Ukil, secretary of Ballygunge Cultural Association where the vermillion ceremony will be performed on Sunday afternoon.

At Behala Nutan Dal, the committee members did away with the criteria that only married women can participate in the vermillion ceremony three years ago. “It is an all-embracing ceremony in which even unmarried ladies can participate too,” said convenor Sandipan Banerjee.

At Ahiritola Jubakbrinda where the central theme was the lives of the sex workers, the organisers have invited them to participate in the sindur khela. “This is the first step towards including them into the mainstream. WE not only recognise their contribution to our society but also want to extend a helping hand for them to fight for their rights,” said artist Manas Roy.

At the Durga Puja organised by Durbar Mahila Samanvaya Committee transgenders participated in the vermillion ceremony along with the sex workers. “This is the probably the first time that transgenders have been included in sindur khela,” said a spokesperson of Durbar Mahila Samanvvaya Committee.