Sindoor

Sindoor is a red powder which is applied as a full line along the dividing part of a married woman’s hair or as a dot on the forehead. Sindoor called as "maang", is the mark for married woman in Hinduism. Single women do wear the dot ("bindi" in Hindi). Hindu widows do not wear the Sindoor, signifying that their husband is no longer alive.

The history of sindoor is believed to be very old; it is a very traditional practice. It expresses a woman's desire for a long life for their husbands. The reason sindoor is red is because it comes from vermilion, and it is said to represent strength and love. Women initially experience it during their marriage ceremonies and it is considered very important since the bride belongs to the groom and, apparently, loses her virginity as soon as it is put on. [cite book | author=Ahearn, Laura M | title=Invitation to love: Literacy, Love Letters, & Social Change in Nepal | publisher=University of Michigan : Michigan | year=2001 | pages=p.95] [cite journal | author=Selwyn, Tom | title=Images of Reproduction: An Analysis of a Hindu Marriage Ceremony | journal=JSTOR | volume=14 | issue=4 | month=Dec | year=1979 | pages=684–698]

Actually it has been explained by experts in Vedic traditions that the sindoor is placed on the part at the time of the marriage to signify that the wife is now under the protection of her husband and that anyone who harms her would find that their blood would be shed.

There are many Indian movies and dramas under the name of sindoor — "sindoor tere naam ka" and the movie "sindoor" released in 1987 — with their themes revolving around the ritual's significance.

Modern women seldom use sindoor on the forehead daily because it is inconvenient. Many choose to apply a small amount to the parting of the hair as a compromise between modern living and ancient tradition.

In general, using sindoor is a Hindu tradition, and not followed by Muslim women. In the 19th century, sindoor was one of the rituals that a Sufi leader Sharafuddin Maneri had permitted Bangladeshi Muslim women to practice but soon a reformist organization was established to eliminate it. [cite book | author=Akbar, M J | title=The Shades of Swords: Jihad and the conflict between Islam and Christianity | publisher=Routledge: London, New York | year=2002 | pages=p.111]

Though most Indian women do continue to wear the bindi, it has become a decorative accessory often applied as a sticker.

Composition

Traditional sindoor (also known as kumkum) was made with turmeric and alum or lime, or from other herbal ingredients.cite journal | title=Kohl and Sindoor: the potential source of lead poisoning | author=Kapoor, V P | journal=EnviroNews | volume=13 | issue=3 | month=Jul | year=2007 | url=http://isebindia.com/05_08/07-07-1.html | accessdate=2008-03-09] Many commercially available powders are usually mercury or lead compounds (e.g., powdered red lead); these are toxic and can cause lead poisoning.cite web | title=The Hazards of Synthetic Sindoor | publisher=Hinduism Today | date=2004-10-12 | url=http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2004/10-12/60-61_sindoor.shtml | accessdate=2008-03-09] However, Mangalore Kunkuma, traditionally prepared by mixing powdered and burnt betel nut with turmeric is available in some shops in South India.

Health hazard

In early 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered several US retail stores and malls to remove bindi and sindoor from their shelves due to concerns over high lead and other harmful chemical contents.cite web | title=After sindoor, bindi taken off American shelves | publisher=IBN Live | date=2008-03-04 | url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/after-sindoor-bindi-taken-off-american-shelves/60433-17.html | accessdate=2008-03-09]

Dermatologists have concluded that the internal effects of lead are dangerous and can cause possible side effects. The emergence of synthetic dye industry has led to a variety of lower cost chemical dyes and salts in India.

References

"Sindoor" ; K.Ravi Shankar, August, 1987.

"Sindoor tere naam ki" ;Jay Mehta & Kinnari Mehta, Swapna Joshi Waghmare, Kiron Juneja, Gurdeep Kohli, Kishori Shahane, Kirti Gaekwad, Sachin Shroff and Anand Suryavanshi; Zee TV: Monday - Friday at 7:30 pm.