The Turban

A bit about “The Crown”

The turban is known as a very religious millinery hat. Though turbans have been around for thousands of years, the first mentioning of them was in the fourteenth century at the end of the Moorish rule in Spain. The Prophet Muhammad is believed to have worn a turban in white, the most holy colour. Many Muslim men choose to wear green, because it represents paradise, especially among followers of Sufism. In parts of North Africa, where blue is common, the shade of a turban can signify the tribe of the wearer. There have been over sixty-six types of Turbans. Hindus tend to reserve their turbans for ceremonies and significant occasions, whereas Sikh men wear them all the time. In Islamic countries, the headgear is regarded as Sunnah Mu’akkadah (Confirmed Tradition).

The origins of the turban is uncertain. Early Persians wore a conical cap encircled by bands of cloth, which historians have suggested was developed to become the modern turban, but other theories suggest it was first widely worn in Egypt. Sikh men commonly wear a peaked turban that serves for the purpose of covering their long hair, which in respect for God’s creation is never cut. Devout Sikhs do not cut their beards either, so many instead twist them and tuck them up into their turbans. A style of turban called a phakeolis was also worn by soldiers of the Byzantine army.

Sikh Turban

Akali Turban Cotton over a wicker frame, Steel overlaid with gold. Lahore. Mid-19th century. “A tall conical turban provided convenient transportation for a number of sharp steel quoits – edged weapons hurled to lethal effect by the practised hand of the Akalis.”
The Sikh turban, known as the Dastar or a Dumalla, the turban is used to show others they’re they represent the embodiment of Sikh teachings, the love of the Guru and sigma to do good deeds,[10] the turban also protects Sikh’s long unshorn hair and keep hair clean. The turban is mandatory for all members Khalsa(Baptized Sikhs) to wear. The Khalsa are the last active warrior religion. The Rajastani turban is also commonly called the pagari (In the West, many Sikhs who wear pagri are sometimes mistaken for Muslims or Arabs.[11]). The Sikhs have a long history of being warriors and are referred to as saint-soldiers since the 1600–1700s.

All Sikh Gurus since Guru Nanak have worn turbans. However, covering one’s hair with a turban was made an official policy by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. The main reasons to wear turban are to take care of the hair, promote equality, and preserve the Sikh identity. Sikh women may wear a turban if they wish.

Sikhs do not cut their hair, as a religious observance. The turban protects the hair and keeps it clean. As Sikhs only form 2% of India’s population, their turbans help identify them. When he institutionalized the turban as a part of the Sikh identity, Guru Gobind Singh said, “My Sikh will be recognized among millions.”

Turbans were formerly associated with the upper class, and many men in the cultural elite still wear turbans. This distinction between the turban-wearing upper class (Sardars) and commoners promoted segregation and elitism. In order to eliminate the class system associated with turbans, Guru Gobind Singh Ji declared each and every Sikh a Sardar. He also rejected the class system by giving all Sikhs the last names Singh and Kaur.

The Dastar Bunga is the style of turban generally worn by Akali Singhs in battle. The “Chand Tora” is a metal symbol consisting of a crescent sword and a double edged sword, held in place at the front of the turban by a woven chainmail cord tied in a pattern within the turban to protect the head from slashing weapons. The purpose of the Tora is to keep the dastaar together. It goes over the bunga to protect it and protect the dasam dwar. Also used for keeping shastars together. In the past every Sikh man wore this type of turban, known as a Dumalla; it is still often worn in the Punjab.

The most common turban colors worn by Sikhs are blue, orange, white and black. Akali Nihang Sikhs decorate their turbans or Dumalla by wearing small weapons known as Shastars in them.

Web Design by Pebble Pixel