Sindoor, also known as Vermillion, is a reddish-orange powder with a chemical name of Vermillion. Cinnabar is one of the common components of sindooram. Cinnabar is a mercury ore that is light red in color and is represented by the symbol HgS.
In Bihar, women typically apply orange sindoor (vermillion) during Chhath Puja, a festival dedicated to the sun god. This practice is linked to the belief that the orange sindoor, reaching from the hairline to the nose, ensures a long life for their husbands, with the longer application signifying greater longevity, according to Zee Business. The orange color is also associated with Lord Hanuman, who is revered as celibate, and its use during Chhath Puja marks the end of a woman’s celibacy vow after marriage.
