Sindoor becomes symbol of solidarity: Bhubneswar grocery stores run out of vermillion as public shows support to India's strikes

BHUBANESWAR: The sale of sindoor witnessed a significant jump in shops across the city on the morning after India's targeted strike on terror hideouts in Pakistan. Shopkeepers reported a dramatic increase in the sale of sindoor on Wednesday as people rushed to purchase red vermillion to celebrate 'Operation Sindoor'.Showing support for India's decisive action against terrorist elements in Pakistan, people gathered at various locations, including housing complexes and public spaces, to demonstrate national pride using the sindoor and the tricolour."This is a historic moment for our nation. Though sindoor is used by women, we applied it on our clothes and face as a mark of respect for our armed forces," said college student Abhisek Tripathy, who was part of the celebration.Akhaya Das, owner of a stationery shop in Chandrasekharpur area of Bhubaneswar, said he had only about 40 small sindoor packets in his stock. "A buyer came and purchased all of them. Out of curiosity when I asked him the reason, he attributed it to Operation Sindoor," Das said. With people buying sindoor in bulk to express their patriotic sentiment, grocery store owner Prahalada Swain said, "On a good day, I sell only 10 or 15 packets of sindoor daily. I was pleasantly surprised when over 45 packets were sold out by Wednesday afternoon."Citizens took to the streets to celebrate India's targeted strike, with many applying sindoor tilaks in a symbolic gesture of support for the armed forces. "This is our way of showing solidarity with the forces. The sindoor also represents the blood our soldiers are willing to shed for the nation," said Sujit Mahapatra, another citizen.Pradyumna Khatua, a cultural expert explained this trend as a spontaneous expression of support for the armed forces. "People are using sindoor, a symbol of prosperity and victory in our culture, to mark this moment," Khatua said. explained Supporting the public response, Santosh Nayak, a retired SP said such displays of solidarity boost the morale of our armed forces. "It shows that the entire nation stands united," he said.