English: A ritual being performed by the couple during a Bengali wedding in Kolkata, India (popularly known as Bong Wedding. Bongs are the people residing in the state of West Bengal in India whose mother tongue is Bengali), symbolizing the start of a new bond based on love and friendship. This ritual is performed after the bridegroom adorns the bride's forehead with 'Sindoor' (Vermilion). A married woman in India is expected to wear the sindoor on her forehead till her husband is alive. It is believed that God protects the husbands of those women who put 'sindoor' and also wards off all evil spirits. Special emphasis is laid on the bridal wear, according to astrology, the red planet Mars is in-charge of marriages. Therefore, Hindu brides are asked to wear red during the wedding proceedings since it stands for prosperity and fertility. Another reason being, red is also the universal colour of love and commitment, so it is used very generously during Indian weddings.