Information About The Turkish Turban

By Margarita Joseph


On the day to day lives we meet with people who wear turbans and we have questions. If you have met a man with a Turkish turban most probably he is a Sikh. This turban signifies wealth and happiness and one wearing it is most probably going to a wedding or any other festivities.

This garment is usually worn at weddings. However the garment became popular during the popular show of the American idol, a singing competition. One contestant showed up with not only a beard and probably long hair but also a golden head garment. This sparked debate about the culture all over America. Although the talk was both negative and positive, it is safe to say that it led to the enlightenment of many who were previously ignorant.

The garment has been worn since the late 15th century where Muslims and their slaves then, Hindus wore them. However at these times they did not bear any significance. When the Sikh founder Guru Nanak was born he never cut his hair and wore the garment daily, a trend which was also observed by nine of his successors. This made wearing the article bear some significance and it has since been referred to in the Sikh religious scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib.

The garment is very significant to the wearers. Wearing it is pledging unconditional and unquestionable allegiance to your Guru. It is also committing yourself to serving others even on the face of ill intentions from their side. The garment in itself represents self respect, honor, piety, courage and spirituality. Since it is considered a gift from the ones own Guru, putting it on was something similar to crowning yourself. It was a sign of nobility and commanded a lot of respect.

Although the garment is generally a religious and cultural article, there is also a technological aspect to it. The Sikh do not cut their hair but rather fold it in a Rishi knot. Apparently this knot concentrates the solar energy needed in meditation to the head. The purpose of the turban then is to hold in place the 26 bones of the skull from all that energy.

Although common to all of us, there are actually different styles of the garment. They each have a certain meaning or are worn by certain people. For instance the Chand Tora Dhamala which was a warrior style wound when going into battle. Another was the patka which was usually made by boys in the play field. These were not the whole lot. On the contrary there were many other styles.

Although the garment is generally identified by Sikh men it is not uncommon to find women wearing it. This is however done by women who are staunch as a majority of them wear only a scarf over their head. In as much as the article identifies the culture some sahajdhari Sikhs do not wear the garment.

Evidently the yellow garment is a piece of history, religion and culture. It deserves protection and appreciation. Let us do this for the Turkish turban, it deserves it.




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