Overview
Sindoor (Hindi: सिंदूर, IAST: sindūr), also known as sindura (Sanskrit: सिन्दूर, IAST: sindūra), is a traditional cosmetic powder from South Asia, typically vermilion red, orange-red or maroon in colour. It is most commonly worn by married women along the parting of their hairline.
In Hindu communities, sindoor is regarded as auspicious and serves as a visual marker of a woman's marital status. Within these traditions, ceasing to wear sindoor is generally associated with widowhood. The application of sindoor is connected with various customs and rituals observed during and after marriage.
Traditional preparations of sindoor were made using turmeric combined with alum or lime, or from other herbal ingredients. Unlike formulations based on red lead or vermilion, these traditional ingredients are not poisonous. Some commercial sindoor products, however, contain synthetic ingredients; certain such products are not manufactured to proper standards and may contain lead.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Sindoor.