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Different Types Of Punjabi Turban

By Nita McKinney


People world wide often choose to wear specific head coverings to follow a fashion trend, as a tradition of their culture or as a matter of religion. In some circumstances, folks may take this option for all of the reasons listed. The Punjabi turban is one headdress that is worn by members of the Sikh faith and encompasses all those points.

The Sikh religion began roughly six centuries ago in India and though still prominent there and in Pakistan, it is practiced worldwide. Members of this faith wear turbans to symbolize their commitment to live a life of self respect, honor, piety and courage. Though most people choose to wear the coverings from an early age, it becomes mandatory for a man once he has been baptized.

As part of their devotion to their faith, the men never cut their hair and they do not wear it loose. The style of the turban does not actually symbolize any level of status, it is simply a way of showing their commitment. Though there are some designs that are easily recognizable as Sikh, each person is not limited to only those few fashions and all are free to create their own wrapping method.

Regardless of how a man ultimately decides to wrap his headdress, the hair is generally prepared in a standard way. The hair is gathered into a joora, a twisted or braided knot at the crown of the head which is then covered with a tight fitting cloth called a patka. The reason for this under covering is to keep the hair from becoming tangled in the outer cloth and to add a splash of color at the forehead.

Perhaps the most recognizable form of Sikh head wear is the old style Dhamala which is very popular with men in many Western countries. This simple design is the easiest one for beginners and has served as the basis for many other models that have since evolved. Having learned this general wrapping technique, adding personal touches to create a new look is no issue.

The Double Patti is often called a Nok and is yet another popular choice of Punjabi style headdress. It is done a bit differently because it begins with a piece of fabric that is basically a 6 meter square instead of a long length of cloth. The finished look is larger than most other designs but it takes fewer wraps and is relatively easy to do.

Another style that is not as common as it once was but it great for people with broader faces is the Patiala Shahi. This design features a distinct triangular point at the forehead through which the under cloth shows for a splash of color, a generally rounded silhouette with a flattened rear. The fabric used is at least seven and a half meters long and requires a lot of layers.

The Punjabi turban styles worn by those of the Sikh faith have many different variations. Colors and designs are all a matter of personal choice and hold no special meanings either culturally or religiously. They are simply a symbol of one's commitment to live a lifestyle and a way for like minded persons to recognize each other in public.




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