Figure 1.--In Rajasthan the turban is a very important garment. Rajasthan is a northwestern state locted along he Pakistani border. We are not sure wh the color here represents if anything. |
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The turban is a male headdress made up of a long scarf-like single piece of cloth wraped around the head in various ways. The word 'turban' in English refers to several sorts of wrapped headwear. In Western countries men wearing turbans in are most likely to be Sikhs who Have a religious requirement to cover their uncut hair. In India the tirban is more widespread. The origins are apparently Persian and the English word is derived from the Persian "dulband".
The turban today is most common on the Indian sub-continent in India and Pakistan as well as Afghanistan. . They are worn by men and boys, although they are more common among adult men. Wearing turbans varies a great deal in modern Indian. There are regional and religious variations expressed in various ways, such as color , size, and wrapping style. In Rajasthan the turban continues to be an important garment. Jats and Rajputs from the Indian state of Rajasthan both wear turbans, but distinctive ones. The Rajputs wear colored turbans. The Jats wear white turbans. The Marwaris wear light-colored turbans. There is also astatus element. Royalty may have distinctively styled silk turbans. Peasants may just wrap a small cloth strip around their head. Turbans are most common with Sikhs, especially the boys. They are also worn by Hindus, Muslims, and Indians of other faiths.
The turban is a male headdress that has no inherent construction. It is made up of a long scarf-like single piece of cloth wraped around the head in various ways. Turban can refer to several sorts of wrapped headwear.
The turban is perhps more associated with India than any other country. Little is known about the origins of the turban, but it clearly did not originate in India. The most likely origin is Persia. One of the kingdoms absorbed by Cyrus as he built the Persian Empire was the Phrygians. They were known fora conical cap (now refered to as Phrygian cap). It was encircled by bands of cloth which some historians believed evolved into the modern turban. The word 'turban' in English has Persian origins, the Persian 'dulband'. The turban today is most common on the Indian sub-continent in India and Pakistan as well as Afghanistan, although it is worn in some other areas, primarily in some Arab countries.
The Hindi term for turban is 'pagri'. This is the generic term. There are many other terms used to describe specific regional styles or weays of wrapping the tunic. This includes the Mysore Peta, the Marathi pheta, Puneri Pagadi and the Sikh Dastar.
The popularity of turbans has declined since independence (1947). This may be a process that began earlier, but our information is limited. We do se boys wearing turbance before independence. It is today much less common to see young men earing turbans, especially once you move away from the morthwest of the country. This includes Rajistan and the area where Sikhs are most concentrated. Even less common is boys wearing turbans. his is a little different for special events for which Indians often dress up for the celebration. For ordinary days, few males wear turbans. And almodt no boys except Sikh boys. This is clearly vissible in school portraits. In many areas the turban has become headwear most commonly wirn by elderly men.
Colors have national or regionl connotations as well as occassions. Saffron is often associated with valor or sacrifice (martyrdom). It is often worn for rallies. White is associated with peace and can be worn by elders. Pink has aeasonzl look being associated with spring and popular for marriage ceremonies. Navy blue is most common for the Sikh Nihangs and has an assocituin with war and royalty,. Black can suggest resistance.
Turbans are worn by Hindus, Muslims, and Indians of other faiths. In Western countries men wearing turbans in are most likely to be Sikhs who Have a religious requirement to cover their uncut hair. In India the turban is more widespread. Hindus also often wear them, but are more likely to wear them mostly for ceremonial occassions.
The turban is orimarily a male garment. It can be worn by boys as well as men, although it is much more common with adult men. Sikh boys are an exception to the general pattern for turbans not being common among boys. It is not common for other Indian boys to wear turbans, except for special occassion. A factor here is that it is not a very practical garment. It is also not just a garment younput on. It has ti be wrapped which is complicated. Thus younger boys can not wrap it by themselves. A few schools used the turban as part of a school uniform, but this was not very common. We think it was a few exclusive private schools. And Indian Boy Scouts once wore turbans, but we are mnot sure this continues to be the case.
Wearing turbans varies a great deal in modern Indian. There are regional and religious variations expressed in various ways, such as color , size, and wrapping style.
The turban sems to continue to be important, especially in northern India. In Rajasthan, a state along the northwestern border with Pakistan, the turban continues to be an important garment. Aurban is an important part of formal dress. Jats and Rajputs from the Indian state of Rajasthan both wear turbans, but distinctive ones. The Rajputs wear colored turbans. The Jats wear white turbans. The Marwaris wear light-colored turbans.
There is also a status element associated with wearing turbans. Royalty High status people were the most likely to wear turbans. may have distinctively styled silk turbans. Peasants may just wrap a small cloth strip around their head. Turbans are most common with Sikhs, especially the boys.
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