Bijoya Dashami Marked by Sindur Khela Festivities Across Pandals

The tenth day of the Durga Puja festival, known as Bijoya Dashami, is being observed with widespread participation in Sindur Khela ceremonies at temporary structures and permanent community pandals. Women gather in groups to apply vermilion powder to each other's faces and bodies in a joyous, celebratory manner that has become synonymous with the culmination of the five-day festival.

Sindur Khela, literally meaning "the game of vermilion," represents a moment of collective joy and social bonding among female worshippers. The ritual carries symbolic significance, with vermilion traditionally associated with marital status and auspiciousness in Bengali culture. The playful exchanges during Sindur Khela provide a counterpoint to the more solemn devotional aspects of the earlier puja days.

Pandal organizers across neighborhoods have prepared special spaces for the Sindur Khela proceedings, ensuring adequate arrangements for the large numbers of participants. The tradition draws participants from diverse age groups and social backgrounds, reflecting the inclusive nature of Durga Puja celebrations in Bengali communities.

Following the Sindur Khela festivities, the immersion of goddess Durga's idols into water bodies typically occurs in the evening, marking the formal conclusion of the annual observance. This sequence of events—from worship to the symbolic playfulness of Sindur Khela to final immersion—completes the cycle of one of South Asia's most significant religious and cultural celebrations.