Women bid farewell to Maa Durga by celebrating 'Sindoor Khela'

In West Bengal,  women celebrated the last day of Durga Puja, also called Maha Dashami or Vijayadashmi, on Thursday by participating in 'Sindoor Khela'. "Sindoor is very valuable for us Bengalis during Durga Puja... we pray for the wellbeing of our family on these days... It is also a sad feeling for us since Maa leaves..."Gayatri, a devotee said. . Foreigners also took part in the celebrations held in Kolkata.

VIDEO | West Bengal: At Arambagh Puja Samiti, women celebrate the vibrant Sindoor Khela ritual, bidding a heartfelt farewell to Maa Durga as the beats of the dhak mark her departure.

(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/JCtYn9WpxI

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Sindoor Khela is celebrated by women applying vermilion to the idol and then smearing it onto one another, and marks the end of the five-day Durga Puja. The day also symbolises the return of the Goddess to her celestial abode.

Bollywood actor Kajol participated with much enthusiasm in the 'Sindoor Khela' ceremony with her daughter Nysa, sister Tanisha and other family members at the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja. The Durga Puja celebrations, which have been led by the actor's family for several decades now, is set to culminate on Thursday with Vijayadashami.