India, Oct. 14 -- The sight of Bengali women dressed in white sarees with striking red borders is one of the most recognisable images of Sindoor Khela during Durga Puja. But the white-and-red combination is more than a festive fashion choice. Rooted in Bengali customs and cultural symbolism, it carries associations that have been passed down through generations. Saru Subba, historian and founder of Carol School Guwahati, shared the cultural significance behind the choice.

Saru highlighted that the white saree with a red border worn by Bengali women during Sindoor Khela is deeply connected to Bengal's cultural history, traditional ideas of womanhood, and the visual language of Durga Puja. To understand this attire, it is important to look...