Essence of red
Mercuric sulfide hues
Gloriously bright
With a propensity to darken
Throw aside crushed brick pretenders
The colour of fire and blood
Love and hate
Creation, destruction, hunger
Nothing better for us, lover
So paint it red
~Excerpt from 'Vermillion' by Eli Snow
Sindoor is a traditional vermillion powder from the Indian subcontinent, usually worn by married women along the part of their hair and/or as a dot on their forehead.In Hindu communities the use of sindoor indicates a woman is married and ceasing to wear it usually implies widowhood.The main component of traditional sindoor is usually cinnabar (mercury sulfide, a toxic mineral), turmeric and lime.
(Fro...