The Sixteen Shades of Submission

From tax changes to bollywood film clichés to daily experiences – the symbols of marriage that are exclusive to women.

- Samriti Dhatwalia

When placed in the parting of a married Hindu woman's hair, vermilion signifies her "blessed" marital status. According to Bollywood, it stands as the most magnificent emblem of achievement in life that any woman can dream of. A variety of movies feature sindoor and suhagan (a married woman with a living husband) in their titles, and the leading ladies weep with joy whenever the hero applies red powder to their hair—and in some instances, even blood (!).

In a famous parody from the movie Om Shanti Om, the protagonist Shantipriya praises the significance of vermilion:

"Ek chutki sindoor ki keemat tum kya jaano Ramesh babu... ishwar ka aashirwad hota hai ek chutki sindoor ... suhagan ke sarr ka taj hota hai ek chutki sindoor ... har aurat ka khwab hota hai ek chutki sindoor"

(It represents divine favour, the crowning jewel for a married woman, the ultimate dream for every woman.)

Women portraying villains in soap operas and Bollywood movies are frequently distinguished by their unwillingness to adhere to the virtuous sisterhood of the enduring, self-denying, traditional Hindu woman who sacrifices everything for her spouse and family. Numerous women nationwide have developed skin infections due to applying sindoor in their hair parting.

They move around daily, dealing with this infection, yet they can't refrain from putting on sindoor. They claim that not applying sindoor would feel odd. They would sense a widow's emotions. They wouldn't feel good about it. In ancient times, it was thought that sindoor should be worn for the longevity of the husband. Women are anxious that something could occur to their partners.