Sindoor (Sanskrit: सिन्दूर, IAST: sindūra) or sindura[1] is a traditional vermilion red or orange-red cosmetic powder from the Indian subcontinent, usually worn by married women along the part of their hairline.[2] In some North Indian Hindu communities, the sindoor is a visual marker of marital status of a woman and ceasing to wear it usually implies widowhood.[3]
Traditional sindoor was made with turmeric and alum or lime, or from other herbal ingredients.[4] Unlike red lead and vermilion, these are not poisonous.[4][5] Some commercial sindoor products contain synthetic ingredients, some of which are not manufactured to proper standards and may contain lead.[6][7]
- ^ Basu, Baman Das (2007). Sri Narada Pancharatnam. Cosmo Publications. p. 219. ISBN 978-81-307-0539-2.
- ^ Susie J. Tharu, Ke Lalita (1993-04-01). Women Writing in India: The twentieth century (Volume 2 of Women Writing in India: 600 B.C. to the Present). Feminist Press, 1993. ISBN 978-1-55861-029-3.
... Sindoor is a red powder worn by married women in the parting of the hair ...
- ^ "Sindoor – History and Significance | Sanskriti - Hinduism and Indian Culture Website". 2018-03-04. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
- ^ a b Kapoor, V P (July 2007). "Kohl and Sindoor: the potential source of lead poisoning". EnviroNews. 13 (3). Retrieved 2008-03-09.
- ^ "The Hazards of Synthetic Sindoor". Hinduism Today. 2004-10-12. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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