Maangalyam considered Auspicious for Indian Women
The tradition of application of sindoor in the parting of hair by married hindu women is considered extremely auspicious and is being carried on since centuries. Sindoor is applied for the first time to a hindu woman during the marriage ceremony when the bridegroom himself adorns her with it. The ceremony is called Sindoor-Dana and is very much in vogue even in present times. Religious scholars say that there has been no mention of this ceremony before the Grihasutras hence it is considered to be a relatively new practice.
The tradition of wearing Sindoor by married women has been explained with the help of mythology. Scholars say that red is the color of power while vermilion is a symbol of the female energy of Parvati and Sati. hindu mythological legends regard Sati as the ideal wife who gave her life for her husband's honor.
Every hindu wife is supposed to emulate her. hindus believe that Goddess Parvati protects all those men whose wives apply vermilion to their parting of hair. Both Sindoor and kumkum have social and religious significance attached to them. In North india, it is customary for a husband to apply sindoor on his wife's forehead during important festivals such as Navaratri and Sankranti.