HERITAGE OF THE TURBAN - Sikh Wisdom

The turban is commonly associated with the Sikh identity. Actually the turban has been used not only in India but throughout the world for thousands of years. The turban has been worn by religious people, royalty and used in fashion. The turban has been called by different names in different countries. In Persian, it is called "Dulband" or "Sarband"; Turkish "Tulband"; Italian, Spanish, Portugese "Turbante"; Dutch "Tulbans"; Romanian "Tulipan"; French "Turbant"; English "Turban"; and in ancient Egyptians "pjr". In India it is called "Pag" or "Pugri", the name that probably came from "pjr" and the Sikhs call it "Dastar". Europeans used the turban for fashion as early as fifteenth century. There is an oil painting in the National Gallery at London by Jan Van Eyck with a caption "a man in turban" which dates back to 1433 AD.

The Turban has been a symbol of purity as is evident from this text from the Old Testament. Looking at Joshua dressed in dirty clothes, angel of God said: Take off his dirty clothes, cloth him in splendid robes of State and put a clean turban on his head. "I have taken away your inequity from you." (Zechariah 3:4-9)

In Islam Prophet Muhammad said:

"The turban is a frontier between faith and unbelief."

"Wear turbans, for thus you will gain in generosity."

"Wear turbans and thus distinguish yourselves from the people who came before you."

"My community shall not fall away so long as they wear turban."

"At the day of the judgment, a man shall receive a light for each turn of the turban round his head."

The Sikhs call their turban "Dastar". It is also called "Pugri" or "Pag". The Sikhs do not cut their hair. They tie their hair on the forehead in a knot called "Jurha", and the turban is used to cover the hair. All Sikh Gurus kept their hair uncut and wore the turban. It is worth mentioning that at that time Moguls were ruling India, who dictated that only Muslims and Hindu Rajputs who were employed in their court were allowed to wear the turban. As a sign of slavery rest of Indians were forbidden from wearing turban which was replaced by cap (Topy). Sikh Gurus and Sikhs did not follow the dictate and continued wearing Dastar.

Dr. Kala Singh (Scholar for Sikh Wisdom - Sikh Question and Answer Platform)