Just after mangalsutra ritual, groom applies sindoor, red vermillion (also known as kumkum), to the center of the bride’s forehead. These two offerings signify the Groom’s devotion to his Bride and the Bride’s new status as a married woman. The Sindhoor is purposely not placed on the bride prior to the wedding ceremony due to its significance during the ritual. It not only serves as her rite of passage from a ‘girl’ to a married woman, but also her newly gained status of an adult who is capable of running a household.
