A mood of sadness overwhelmed the entire Tripura as festivity reached its last day on Friday. According to popular belief, it is Mahadashami, the final day of Durga Puja, and the goddess will go back to ‘Kailash’ once again.
Women crowd at the marquees (pandals) across the city to bid farewell to the Goddess and her four children with vermilion and sweets.
Sindoor Khela (Smearing of vermilion) marks the day when Bengali women folk in traditional dress smeared each other with red vermilion wishing long life for their husband and peace and prosperity for their families.
It is a tradition of Hindu married women to apply sindoor in their forehead and which is the symbol of the marriage and husband.
On the last day of Durga puja they apply sindoor in the feet of goddess Durga for her blessing for a long life of the husband and pray for peace and prosperity of their family so that the year goes well.
Snigdha Sen a devotee said, “Today is Dasami and a very important day for the Bengalis. Sindoor khela is so that the vermilion which we put on our forehead and also in the feet of Maa Durga so that with her blessings it remains safe and secure forever in our head.
“We come to Durga Bari to pary to mother Durga for the prosperity and welfare of our family beside long life of our husband. We also put vermilion on the forehead of five or seven married women and hope that with her (goddess Durga’s) blessings the year will be a very peaceful one and coming year also she come fulfilling all our desires.”
Along with married women, students and business man also come with the books and accounts book for the blessings of the goddess.
