India, Sept. 30 -- Durga Puja season brings back the unmistakable fragrance of shiuli and the sight of women draped in the classic laal paar saree, a white weave edged with a bold red border. Rooted in Bengal's handloom legacy, the saree was once woven in breathable cotton for the state's sultry climate. The symbolism is as striking as the palette: white for purity, red for fertility, strength, and the divine feminine. The iconic Bangla drape represents the absolute core of the Bengali woman's identity, history, and traditions throughout the years.

No image captures its significance better than Sindoor Khela on Vijayadashami (Dussehra, falling on October 2 this year). Married women smear vermilion on each other while wearing this very sa...