Monday, January 28, 2013

The Afghan Turban In The Culture Of Afghanistan

By Emilia Espinoza


In Afghanistan more people wear turbans than in any other country in the world. The Afghan turban is also known as a lungee, and it is an extremely important part of Afghanistan's culture. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors that represent different element of the culture of the country.

Lungees are only worn by the men in Afghanistan, and it is part of the national dress of men. Women do not wear them at all. They are mainly worn by elders and tribal leaders, although some younger men may wear them too. The lungee is very large throughout the country and is formed from a large piece of material. A cap is worn on top of the head and underneath the lungee to keep it in place. In Kabul the lungee is much smaller and wound more tightly.

Lungees come in a large number of designs, styles, fabric and colors according to the tribe of the wearer. Some styles are common all over Afghanistan whereas others are limited to a specific area. Some lungee styles overlap into Pakistan and the Hindu Kush area.

A lungee is formed by a very long piece of material that is five meters long and one meter wide. Because of their length they also useful in other ways, such as a shawl to provide protection from the cold, a blanket to sit on and a way to tie up animals. The think cap inside the lungee is often used as a way to carry water.

Turbans worn in Afghanistan also represent the wearers title, age and status, culture and religion. The lungee is wrapped around a thick cap on top of the head so the turban stays in position. Despite their size they are very lightweight.

Many men in Afghanistan wear either a white or black lungee. This is because the prophet Mohammed is said to have worn these color lungees throughout his life. The lungee is worn at all times in Afghanistan and it is extremely impolite and rude to remove the lungee in a public place. They are even worn at work and at formal meetings and events.

People also wear the lungee in Afghanistan in order to keep their culture alive, and to garner respect from younger people as the lungee is a sign of wisdom and authority. Showing respect to ones elders and tribal leaders is a very important part of Afghanistan's culture. If one does not give respect then they can loose support from the wider community. People in Afghan community turn to their elders for advice and help with personal and domestic issues and they are also given honest feedback that is a benefit to the entire community.

The lungee is a very important aspect of the culture, traditions and religion of Afghanistan. The people of the country want to maintain their culture and so requesting that a man take off his lungee is considered extremely rude. The Afghan turban is a very important part of the national dress of Afghanistan, and they have many spiritual, cultural and practical purposes.




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