Kolkata, Oct. 21 -- The iconic ritual of Sindoor Khela, in which Bengali women apply vermilion to Goddess Durga and one another to celebrate womanhood and togetherness, has gained considerable popularity in Oslo, the capital of Norway.
As the City of Joy is gripped by festive fervour, the Bengali diaspora in the Land of the Midnight Sun is racing against time to make the final preparations for Durga Puja. While Kolkata is still experiencing the last spells of the monsoon, Oslo has already witnessed its first snowfall of the season, with winter gloom and shorter days setting in.
After enjoying daylight until midnight in July, the city, where temperatures hover around minus 1 degree Celsius, is now switching on its lights at around 9 pm. Am...