Chapra Kali Bari bids farewell to Goddess Durga with Sindoor Khela on Vijayadashami

At the Kali Bari temple in Chapra, Bihar, devotees gathered on Vijayadashami to observe a 105‑year‑old Bengali custom of bidding farewell to Goddess Durga. Women performed the traditional Sindoor Khela ritual, applying vermilion to the goddess’s forehead as a symbol of devotion. After the offering, the goddess was presented with a Khoicha, a cloth that signifies her departure from the shrine. The ceremony concluded with prayers for Durga’s return the following year, reaffirming the community’s faith and cultural continuity.