Beyond Tradition, 'Sindoor' Is An Emotion. Here's Why Those Calling Codename 'Misogynistic' Need To Rethink
Last Updated:
An X user compiled reactions questioning codename 'Sindoor' and wrote, "There has been an astronomical feminist outrage since yesterday simply due to the name."
How is it possible for some people to make an issue about everything, a perplexed X (formerly Twitter) user asked when a section of social media users began questioning codename 'Sindoor' — the operation against Pakistani terror camps in response to Pahalgam terror attack. But what's in this name?
Another X user, @kumarmanish9, explains, 'Apparently, according to their newfound wisdom, the word 'Sindoor", a deep cultural symbol of marriage and life in India, is now 'misogynistic."
What's The Problem With 'Sindoor'?
A user, @landbreadpeace, called the operation 'warmongering action", and wrote that 'sindoor' is a 'symbol of patriarchal control over the identity of women".
A 'left-leaning' media house, in fact, published an opinion piece on why codename 'sindoor' must be examined closely. Some social media users shared the piece, which states: '….Sindoor, in coming times, can be way more potent from the Hindutva lens. The protector has finally risen to the occasion to protect the honour of the Hindu women?"
An X user compiled all such reactions and wrote, 'There has been an astronomical feminist outrage since yesterday simply due to the 'Sindoor' name."
There has been an astronomical feminist outrage since yesterday simply due to the 'Sindoor' name. pic.twitter.com/ivzyIJ2tZr — Yeshwanth (@Yeshwan108) May 8, 2025
Why 'Sindoor' Is The Apt Codename For Strikes In Pakistan?
For example, Karnataka's Manjunath Rao was on a trip with his wife and children, Haryana's Vijay Narwal was on a honeymoon with wife Himanshi and Uttar Pradesh's Shubham Dwivedi had gone to Baisaran Valley with Ashanya Dwivedi, whom he had married in February this year.
Secondly, the family members of the deceased, who were on a vacation with them, told the media that the terrorists asked the religion of tourists and targeted mostly married men from the Hindu community.
Forty-seven-year-old Manjunath Rao's wife recounted chilling moments of the massacre and said that the attacker left her alive to send a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'Go tell this to Modi," the woman quoted the attacker as saying.
ALSO READ | Netizens Thank PM For Avenging Pahalgam Attack: 'They Said Tell Modi…We Did…'
The Pahalgam victims' family too have hailed the codename, calling it 'apt".
Giving a befitting reply to critics, an X user wrote: 'In the Pahalgam terror attack, it was primarily the husbands, the male members, who were brutally killed, some in front of their newly wed wives. The operation's name isn't about oppressing women. It's about standing up against the savagery that left women widowed, children orphaned, and families shattered."
He further wrote, 'But of course, some people are so desperate to spin outrage that they'd rather debate semantics than confront terrorism. Focus on who fired the bullets, not on who named the rescue."
Importance Of 'Sindoor' In India
The critics of codename 'Sindoor' have used terms like 'misogyny', 'patriarchal control' and 'against feminism'.
A line of vermilion powder on the forehead symbolizes a Hindu woman's marital status. However, with increasing literacy rates in India and more women entering corporate environments in urban areas, the practice of wearing 'sindoor' has become less common among modern educated women.
Is 'sindoor' becoming a fading tradition among modern Indian women?
It's challenging to confirm this due to a lack of concrete reports. However, it's not accurate to say that every married Hindu woman has abandoned the traditional use of vermilion, but its prevalence is decreasing due to a modern outlook. Many women in urban spaces choose to wear 'sindoor' as a fashion statement that complements their style.
Occasionally, a woman who doesn't wear vermilion with Western outfits might choose to apply it when wearing a sari for certain family ceremonies.
While the custom symbolizing specification of a woman's marital status is noticed to be a fading norm in urban and corporate India, it still holds immense significance for the remaining part of the country.
The tradition of 'sindoor' holds significant importance in the Hindu community, passed down through generations as a symbol embraced by married women. However, the growing influence of Western culture in India is negatively impacting this ancient practice of applying vermilion.
top videos
View all
ALSO READ: What Is Sindoor? Its Significance For Hindus And References In Popular Culture
A blogger, Shib Sen Chaudhury, wrote for The Times of India in 2020, 'A religion and a country should always treasure its traditions and heritage despite the cropping up plagiarized facts. Similarly, the Indian Hindu women should stick to the set of religious beliefs looking forward to the cited examples of its usage by former President Pratibha Patil and late Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, passed away in August last year. They took the face of traditional Indian women to foreign lands as dignitaries representing the country."
First Published:
May 08, 2025, 15:11 IST
News viral Beyond Tradition, 'Sindoor' Is An Emotion. Here's Why Those Calling Codename 'Misogynistic' Need To Rethink
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Helicopter services to Kedarnath shrine shut until Sept with monsoon arrival
Jun 23, 2025 04:38 PM IST The helicopter services to the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district have been shut until September with the monsoon arrival per the instructions from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Tens of thousands of pilgrims visit the Kedarnath shrine, navigating the treacherous mountain terrain. (HT PHOTO) 'The operators shut down their operations with the arrival of the monsoon session. The services will now resume in September in compliance with the directions of the DGCA,' said Rudraprayag district tourism officer Rahul Chaubey, who is also the nodal officer for the chopper services to Kedarnath. In 2024, helicopters made 22,804 sorties on the Kedarnath route during the Char Dham yatra (May-June and September-October). Until June 15, 2025, 8,786 sorties were carried out on the route, and the number was comparatively low because of adverse weather conditions. A helicopter carrying pilgrims from Kedarnath crashed on June 15, killing all seven people aboard, including a two-year-old girl. The tragedy was the fifth helicopter incident on the route in six weeks. Three emergency landings and another crash killed six people during this period. The crash highlighted growing safety concerns over helicopter operations serving the Char Dham pilgrimage route, which includes four sacred Hindu temples in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Tens of thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine, navigating the treacherous mountain terrain. The crash prompted the suspension of the chopper services on the Char Dham route for two days.
News18
8 hours ago
- News18
Ancient Relic Depicting Goddess On Two Lions Unearthed At Ayodhya's Ram Temple Complex
Last Updated: Experts say the artefact appears to bear the image of a female deity - likely representing a Shakta or Vaishnavite tradition - standing over two crouching lions. Ongoing excavation work along the Kuber Tila pathway in the Ram Temple complex has unearthed another remarkable archaeological find – an ancient relic depicting a goddess figure atop two lions. Believed to be centuries old, the carving adds to the growing list of artefacts found at the sacred site, reinforcing Ayodhya's deep civilisational roots. The relic was discovered during foundation work in a zone being developed as a spiritual trail around Kuber Tila, a prominent hillock within the Ram Janmabhoomi campus. Experts say the artefact appears to bear the image of a female deity – likely representing a Shakta or Vaishnavite tradition – standing over two crouching lions. While erosion over time has softened the finer details, the posture and iconography align with depictions of divine figures seen in early medieval Hindu temple art. According to a senior official of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, several such relics have been discovered since temple construction began. Each of them is being documented and preserved carefully. This latest find is particularly fascinating because of its symbolic depth and artistic style. Echoes of the Past Beneath Sacred Ground The Kuber Tila area is undergoing extensive development as part of the broader temple plan, which aims not only to build a grand structure for Lord Ram but also to revive and protect Ayodhya's tangible heritage. The recent discovery, say archaeologists, strengthens the historical and spiritual linkage of Ayodhya through the centuries. Officials and experts involved in the construction work noted that the recently unearthed artefact, featuring a lion and goddess motif, reflects a long-standing tradition in Indian temple iconography. The depiction likely represents Goddess Durga or a regional deity and is estimated to date between the 6th and 9th centuries CE. Given Ayodhya's uninterrupted sacred legacy, such symbols point to the deep and layered evolution of worship practices at the site. Previous Discoveries at the Ram Temple Site This is not an isolated incident. Since 2020, when the temple's deep foundation work began, a series of ancient artefacts have been uncovered. These include three ring wells, animal and human terracotta figurines, decorated bricks, and copper objects – all found at levels more than 40 feet deep. Experts associate these artefacts with the Maurya, Shunga, and Kushana periods, dating back to the 3rd century BCE. Some scholars contacted by the trust have even suggested the possibility of earlier origins through radiocarbon dating. They may be looking at cultural remnants as old as 1680 BCE, indicating over 3,600 years of historical continuity under Ayodhya's soil, according to an official. The 2003 ASI Excavation: A Legal Turning Point Earlier, in 2003, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted a high-profile excavation at the disputed site under the directions of the Allahabad High Court. This investigation revealed the remains of a pre-existing religious structure – including carved pillars, shrine bases, and decorated stones – beneath the Babri Masjid. These findings were later acknowledged by the Supreme Court in its 2019 judgment, which awarded the disputed land to the Hindu side for temple construction. The ASI report, along with testimonies and artefacts, played a pivotal role in legally affirming the site's historic Hindu connection. Ongoing Preservation and a Future Museum To preserve these cultural treasures, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has formed a dedicated conservation team. Artefacts found during construction are being catalogued, and plans are underway to display them in a museum being built within the temple complex. Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Ram Mandir Trust, stated that all artefacts discovered during construction are being carefully preserved. These are not just stones but testimonies to Ayodhya's ancient heritage. They are being catalogued systematically, and they will be displayed in a museum within the temple complex to educate future generations. The Trust has also involved art historians and epigraphists to decode the symbols and inscriptions found on the stones and relics, many of which are yet to be fully interpreted.
India Today
14 hours ago
- India Today
Karnataka's Murudeshwar temple mandates traditional dress for inner sanctum entry
The Murudeshwar temple in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district has officially implemented a dress code, following appeals from Hindu organisations. Devotees must now wear traditional attire to access the inner the new rules, men will be required to wear either a panche (traditional dhoti) or full-length formal trousers. Women will be allowed to enter only if dressed in sarees or salwar-churidar. Western-style or casual clothing will not be permitted within the designated sacred areas of the notice board outlining these regulations has been installed at the entrance of the temple to inform visitors of the new policy. Temple authorities said the decision was taken to preserve the sanctity of the site and maintain decorum in line with traditional Hindu customs. The implementation of the dress code comes after local Hindu groups submitted a formal appeal calling for stricter attire guidelines for temple visitors. The management responded by formalising the code and making it a prerequisite for entry into the core areas of worship. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
