NEW DELHI:  The 2^nd leg of the campaign, #NoConditionsApply, a revolution kicked off by Calcutta Times aimed at changing the division of tradition is creating waves across the country.

Crafted by FCB Ulka, the campaign has been released in print and on social media platforms.

The campaign, is based on the 400-year-old tradition of Sindoor Khela the last day of the auspicious Durga Pooja, an annual Hindu festival. The Sindur:  that married women put in the parting of their hair, to indicate their marital status.

During the festive time, the warrior goddess, Durga, is worshipped by the Bengali community in India, for a period of 4 days at the onset of autumn. On the last day of this vibrant, rich, communal celebration, married woman endorse the goddess’ and their own marital prosperity by applying Sindur on to the idol’s face and then to each other. It’s a mad riot of vermillion celebration. It’s about a fertile world, a wedded world, a world that acknowledges the wifeness & motherness of a goddess who has just slain a demon. But while the married women come together the rest of sisterhood looks on…uninvited.

“This movement wasn’t for those who had opted out. It was for those who had been pushed out. It was about erasing a line not drawn by them, but by others. About two dots of red with no barrier in between. Me & my other sister. My transgender sister. My widowed sister. My sex worker sister. My outlier sister. It was about equality in symbology. Because after all, that is where it all begins and where it all flows back to. Every progressive, inclusive thought is only as powerful as the ritual it permeates. At least in a country like India – where ritual is everything” said Swati Bhattacharya, Chief Creative Officer, FCB Ulka.

Shedding light on the theme, Rohit Ohri, Group Chairman and CEO, FCB India said, “I have a special connection with this campaign. Having been born and brought up in Kolkata, Durga Puja was something I always looked forward to in my growing up years. Sarbojanin Durga Puja was how I always remembered it. Sarbojanin means for everyone. So Durga Puja was for everyone but Sindoor Khela wasn’t. Swati, Chief Creative Officer FCB Ulka and a feminist, created this campaign about social inclusion for TOI. Inclusion cannot be conditional. And so #noconditionsapply was the perfect articulation to spark off this behaviour change campaign.”

Speaking on the occasion, Sumeli Chatterjee, Vice President, Brand TOI said, “#NoConditionsApply is an initiative that is close to our heart and existence. There is a lot of talk of diversity of gender, this highlights the need to have diversity even within the gender. While we have hosted this inclusive Shindoor Khela initiative in Kolkata, the messaging is relevant to every occasion and every festivity. When we talk of Gender Equity, we cannot limit our conversations to only ambition and opportunities; we need to talk about inclusion in Festivals, Celebrations and every walk of life that will allow everyone to walk that step together. No Celebration can every be complete without including one and all.”

Campaign Summary