Sindoor Khela marks Durga Puja finale across Hyderabad

The Bengali community across Hyderabad and Secunderabad marked the culmination of Durga Puja with Sindoor Khela on Wednesday. Married women exchanged vermilion and sweets at prominent pandals, while community associations hosted gatherings featuring traditional rituals, dhak beats and Bijoya greetings.

Hyderabad: Multiple locations in the twin cities resonated with joy and nostalgia on Wednesday, as the members of the Bengali community marked the culmination of Durga Puja with vibrant Sindoor Khela rituals.

Dressed in traditional red-and-white attire, married women gathered at major pandals established in many locations in Hyderabad and Secunderabad to smear vermilion on each other and offer sindoor and sweets to Goddess Durga. The ritual essentially symbolises wishes for marital bliss, prosperity, and a farewell before the final idol immersion.

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Bengali community associations organised the celebrations at prominent hubs, drawing massive crowds, mostly of women and children.

At the huge NTR Stadium, the Hyderabad Bangalee Samity hosted its traditional large-scale gathering, bringing together thousands of devotees. Similar enthusiastic scenes unfolded at various locations, including the lively celebrations organised by the Bangiya Sanskritik Sangha at Keyes High School in Secunderabad, community events near VNR Gardens in the ECIL–A S Rao Nagar region and traditional observances at Hyderabad Kalibari in Sainikpuri.

As the rhythmic beats of the dhak faded into the evening, community members exchanged warm Bijoya greetings and sweets, concluding another year of cultural festivities while looking forward to the Goddess’s return next autumn.