Why ladies put sindoor

And the tradition of applying the sindoor begins on the day of marriage. During the wedding ceremony, the groom puts sindoor on the hair parting of his bride, thereby solemnising his sacramental union and making her his partner for life. Traditionally in India, the wife is referred to as a husband's Ardhangini , meaning better half.

The ritual of sindoor application is one of the most important customs in most Hindu wedding ceremonies. Read on to know what it signifies. Please note: avoid the use of sindoor made of chemical substances. Go for the organic ones. Sindoor is the symbol of fertility. And since progeny is one of the aspects of a marriage, it is believed that sindoor consisting of mercury was used in the olden days to stimulate the reproductive organs to boost fertility.

It also keeps the blood pressure and stress under control, ancient belief suggests. In the olden days, sindoor was applied from the forehead to the point of the pituitary gland also called the master gland which regulates most of the bodily functions and boosts well-being by stimulating the hormone-secreting glands. It is said that women during the Harappa and Mohenjodaro times too applied the sindoor.

And if this is true, then the ritual of sindoor application is years old. The customary practice of applying sindoor on the forehead of Indian married women has also roots from Vedic age. The exact hair parting is known as maang. Sindoor is also considered as one of the 16 adornments in various traditions followed by the Indian Hindu women. As it is red in colour and mixed with turmeric, it is also called as kumkum.

Mercury is also mixed to get spiritual benefit by applying sindoor on forehead. Groom is adorned with Sindoor by bride. Some people believe that, it is also a new practice, not mentioned in any of the religious texts.

In India, marriage is regarded as a new life for both the bride and groom. Most of the religions in India, rooted with spiritual values perform auspicious ceremonies before and after the marriage. In Hinduism marriage ceremonies are observed for few days. Sindoor dana is one of the most important custom in the Hindu weddings. There are communities where the mother of the groom welcomes the bride at home by putting sindoor.

More than looking at as a ritual, it is also for the longevity of the husband. If we look at the modern society, applying sindoor defines being married or unmarried. It is believed that this custom even existed during the Harappan culture, as documented by the archaeologists.

See all Articles. Related Pujas. Many women wear sindoor like a dot which is called bindu or bindi. When you need to draw something, a line or anything, you put a dot first, because without a dot you cannot draw anything.

So, a bindu symbolizes a seed, without seed you cannot grow anything, therefore it is said to be a symbol of fertility and growth. Astrologically, Aries which is called mesha rashi resides on the forehead of the human body.

Mars is the planet which was ruled by the lord of Aries. Mars is red. Sindoor being red and also applied on the forehead, holds a very important place in Hinduism. Sindoor affects the well-being of not only the married woman but also of her significant other. In many of the Hindu festivals like Navratri and Teeja, sindoor plays a very important role. It is particularly popular in West Bengal. There is a Bengali Hindu tradition where women smear each other with sindoor on Vijayadashami, the last day of Durga Pooja.

In this ritual, Bengali married women apply sindoor on the forehead and feet of the goddess. Here the luscious red is used to celebrate womanhood. In festivals like Teeja, the husband is required to apply the sindoor on the parting of the hair of their wives to pay her respect and show her that, their relationship is as strong and deep as the colour of this vermillion.

Application of sindoor still holds the same significance and value. It also shows her undying love for her significant other. However, with all the modernization, the tradition of applying sindoor now is merely a formality for this generation in several sections of Hindu society. Sindoor now has been accessorized, it is modernized by the new generation.

Apart from being the symbol of matrimony for a Hindu woman, sindoor red vermilion powder has some scientific significance.