Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Let Us Appreciate The Indian Turban Hats For What They Are

By Kate McMahon


A turban is a headgear worn by many people for different reasons. The most common reason as to why people wear turban hats is religious significance. One of the places where its use is significantly more than others is India. However it is often misunderstood and thanks to the September 11 attacks people are openly discriminating to the wearers. The Indian turban is an article that should be used to unite rather than divide people.

The article is won for different reasons by the different people. For one many Indians wear it only on significant celebrations and ceremonies. The Sikh however wear the garment on a daily basis due to their religious requirements. They call the headgear a Dastar which the Khalsa, the baptized, have to wrap around their head on a daily basis. There are a few women who wear the article but it is however identified by the men.

In India it is not clear when the act of wearing this article started. However in Sikhism the article started being won after the Guru Amar Das was chosen for the position. The outgoing guru, Guru Angad Dev honored the new one by giving him this article to wear. This slowly caught on and the last human Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Sing wrote it in the scriptures that a Sikh is supposed to comb their hair twice a day and tie their turban carefully turn by turn.

In Sikhism and India as a whole the garment is used to signify many things, the first is spirituality and holiness. The second significance is honor and self respect. In the Punjabi community the only people who wore the article are those that served the community in the most selfless ways. It can also be used to signify responsibility. During the Rasam Pargi, a Northern India ceremony, the eldest son takes on the responsibility of the family when the father passes on. This is signified by the tying of a turban before a large gathering.

It also represented goodness and moral values. The warriors were most trusted people in the community by everybody. This was like so because they were believed to be of noble mind and exceptional moral values. It is also a symbol of courage as it was worn during battle when going to war. It could also signify friendship of the highest order. During the Pag Vatauni a person exchanged their garment with that of their friend as a pledge of suffering or celebrating with the other person in all situations.

The style of wrapping also stood for something in the community. The Chand Tora Dhalama for instance was a style that was used by warriors in the battle field. It is mainly worn by the Nihang Sikh men.

After the infamous September 11 attacks people started discriminating every wearer of the garment including the Indians. This was based on ignorance considering the suspects of the attack were not even Indians. However during time this is generally reducing and although it has not gotten to where it was before, there has been a notable improvement in the treatment American Indians get.

This is a cultural and historical garment that needs to be more appreciated than it is at the moment. The discrimination should also be stopped as the wearers of the garment are also human. Let us appreciate the Indian turban hats for what they are.




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