The Durga Puja or Dussehra festival has come to an end. The Puja started with the nine-day festival ‘Navratri’. The end of the Pujo is marked by the Durga Visarjan. Just with the arrival of the day of Vijayadashmi the visarjan of the idol of Goddess Durga is done early in the morning.
For many years, visarjan is done early in the morning but if Shravan Nakshatra and Dashmi Tithi rest in the Apaharan Kaal, then this time is the most auspicious one for Visarjan. Most of the devotees break their fast only after the visarjan.
Durga Visarjan 2020 Date and Timings:
Durga Visarjan date – October 26, 2020
Durga Visarjan auspicious time – 06:33 AM to 08:46 AM
Dashami date starts – October 25, 2020, from 07:41 PM
Dashami date ends – October 26, 2020, till 09:00 PM
Sindoor Khela:
Sindoor means red vermillion and Khela refers to play. After the Visarjan Puja is conducted, the practice known as Devi Baran or Devi Boron begins where married women, dressed in white saree with red border perform goddess Durga’s aarti and then apply sindoor over Maa’s forehead and feet.
Sindoor Khela celebrates the power of Durga, a form of Shakti in her married avatar. Just before she prepares to go back to the heavenly abode with her children—Laxmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya, Sindoor Khela hails the spirit of womanhood where women pray for the longevity of their husband and family.
While it cannot be said when and where did the Sindoor Khela tradition actually originate, many believe the tradition is as old as the festival of Durga Puja itself, which dates back around 400 years. Some, however, believe the tradition started around 200 years ago from the households of landlords (zamindars) who organised Durga Puja at their homes. The ritual created an atmosphere of bonhomie among the womenfolk on the lines of Holi, the festival of colours.
