Sindur

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Applying Sindur at an Indian wedding
Loose Sindur powder in a market
Child labor to produce Sindur in Bangladesh

Sindur ( Hindi सिन्दूर IAST sindūr ) is a traditional vermilion or orange-red colored cosmetic powder that is used on the Indian subcontinent by married Hindu women to mark their status. The marking is made on the forehead or on the hairline. The main ingredients of traditional Sindur are usually cinnabarite ( mercury sulfide ), turmeric ( turmeric ) and lime .

history

The use of Sindur has a tradition dating back some 5000 years and has deep religious and social significance in Hindu society. Excavations in Mehrgarh in today's Balochistan testify that Sindur was used in the area of ​​the hairline as early as the early Harappa period . Sindur is the last of the 16 arts of ornament (Solah Shringar) practiced by the married Hindu woman. The ornament is a visible expression of the woman's desire for her husband's longevity.

application

Sindur is traditionally applied at the beginning or along the entire parting line of a woman's hair ( mang , Hindi माँग IAST mā̃g ) or as a point on the forehead. The red color is the sign of a married woman in Hinduism. If a woman no longer applies Sindur, it means that her husband has died, so she is a widow.

The first job with Sindur is made by the groom on the day of the wedding. This custom is also called Sindur Dana. The later, daily renewal of the color is done by the woman herself. In addition to the powder form, Sindur is also available as a liquid or in the form of a stick (similar to a lipstick), which makes it easier to apply the color.

Composition and health hazards

While Indian women used to prepare and finely grind the powder themselves, today Sindur is often offered as a loose powder in markets. Since the recipe is not specified, the ingredients of the pigment vary significantly and are also often not declared. This means that, particularly in markets, but also in the case of no-name products in retail, harmful substances can be processed that cause skin irritation, hair loss or are even carcinogenic. Lead oxide , which is cheap to produce, is one of these dangerous ingredients . Not only women who use the paint are at risk, but also the health of the workers involved in the manufacture of the powder.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ken Taylor, Victoria Williams Ph.D: Etiquette and Taboos around the World: A Geographic Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Customs . ABC-CLIO, 2017, ISBN 978-1-4408-3821-7 , pp. 113 ( google.de [accessed on November 28, 2018]).
  2. ↑ a b c History Of Sindoor In India. Retrieved November 28, 2018 .
  3. ↑ Traditional Sindoor. Retrieved November 28, 2018 .
  4. ^ Pooja Bhushan: What is the Importance of Solah Shringar for an Indian Bride. In: FashionFundas. SpiderWorks Technologies, Kochi - India, October 29, 2012, accessed January 15, 2019 .
  5. ↑ Indian Sindoor. Retrieved November 28, 2018 .
  6. ↑ Contemporary Sindoor. Retrieved November 28, 2018 .
  7. ↑ Sindoor Experts Advice. Retrieved November 28, 2018 .