The Vanishing Turban Erodes the Magnificent SIKH Identity
As many Sikhs shed the most important article of their faith,the hair
grown to the natural length , the size and length of the Sikh turban
shrinks in size for those who religiously continue to maintain their
long uncut hair shrinks in size.
Once a upon a time,not too long ago, only a mere 100 years back , the
splendorous Sikh turban seen on the leading Sikh royalty and their families and the Sikhs in the services , stood out grandly,mesmerising anyone,everyone and holding them in awe, by it grandeur.The turban measured about 8-9 yards.
In those yester years after a young Sikh child underwent the
dastaar bandi [turban tying/adoption/acceptance ceremony],around the
age of 13/14, the children were seriously taught and learnt how to put
on the turban with skill.As the child grew, he mastered the skill
watching his father and other male relatives in the family, until his
turban grew along with him into the any unique majestic style the
family had traditionally been used to.
In the yester year period ,a 5 yard turban of 'mal mal'[muslin] cloth
was starched and wound round the head skillfully,and graciously
elegantly within minutes resulting into a uniquely sophisticated and
sumptuous crown that befitted only the Kings and Nawabs of the great
Indian-Sikh royalty. Many would see no need for a mirror either, when
putting on the turban.
Very ironically, these days many of the Sikh youth see this skill as a
time consuming chore that they feel tired with repeating daily,and
feel the turban has gone by "it' s sell by date" and is no longer a
necessary part of their religious heritage! Many also have an identity
crisis as they try to fit in with the larger community around them ,
who more than often are not Sikhs and lack the understanding and
significience of the turban in matters spiritual of the Sikh faith.The
size of the turban shrank!
The Guru Gobind Singh made the Sikh to stand out, but many with
inferiority complex prefer to "blend in" and become a mediocre. A Sikh
is supposed to be a lighthouse not a 'wave' among millions of'
waves'struggling to blend in!
Over the last six to seven years, turban shops [and e-turban apps]
have sprout up in most parts of the Punjab and other centres of
significant Sikh population , where clients[Sikhs] wishing to learn the
turban skill and be able to skillfully put on a turban are charged fees between R 30- R500!
This is a skill that literally existed commonly in every Sikh family or
household until about 40 years ago.Along with the many ill changes that
have taken place, it is said the use of bright colours for the turbans
only became very common, after the screening of a film with religious
message, about 50 years ago, Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai,where an actor Shuka Singh [Inderjit Singh Johal in real life] sported very many colourful turbans.This lit the desire among the Sikh youth to copy and adopt larger and more colourful turbans as a fashion statement, while still following the
tenets of their faith!
Since then the practice of wearing a 8-9 metre turban revitalised
into being,commonly.Often two similar turbans were also sewn together
creating a larger magnificant turban.They also matched the turbans to
the type of clothing they wore,ensuring they kept up to date with the changing fashion of clothing!
Fast track fifty into today, however, this is now changing, the youth
in Punjab and elsewhere are using shorter length of cloth for the
turban.It is a fact many are discarded the turban all together,irrespective of the fact it is one of the articles
of their faith.Patitpoona [shedding/contravention of religious
principles/articles ] has increased among the young Sikh.Some have
adopted a dual identity-with their hair cut, but wearing of a turban
for functions or a visit to the Gurduara [Sikh house of worship].Others
have taken to wearing a smaller sized turban, citing 'convenience' for
an excuse.Others' turbans look almost like a hat, which Sikhs are
specifically forbidden to wear over their long hair, tied in a knot
over the head!
Even those who have not shed their hair, are often seen
wearing a basebal cap or a simple patka [a bandana type] small
cloth/sometimes a large handkerchief over their heads to cover the long haired knot .The cloth cannot be in any way called a turban.It is acceptable to wear this during sporting activity or at home, but not when one is decently dressed out in public.With a beard, such small covers over the head,present a ridiculously commical look of a Sikh!They invite
negative criticism, and then wonder why the world does not understand
them.
The current apathy towards their own national identity is a matter of
grave concern for the older generations as well as the entire Sikh
community, who see such practices as a decline and deviation from the
well defined path of of the religious identity.
Bollywood and general TV influences are being blamed for such negative
effects upon the Sikh youth, as many are more than often ignorant and
ill informed about the significance and importance of their Sikh history and identity.Many of the Sikh youth have not aquired the basic skills of turban tying , and others have lost the skill and knoweldge on how to wound a proper turban skillfully.
Some youngsters have been seen attending the turban shops to stick on a small patka on their heads!It has also become a common scenario in the
Gurduaras to see matured male Sikhs more than often with patkas upon their heads, presenting a sight as alien to the traditional male Sikh personality and larger than life character, and often provoking mirth and amusement from those around, both Sikhs and more so non Sikhs, who do recognise the majestic turban but not know what to make out such towel like covering.Some of these Sikhs may be fathers to children!They may not know even how to roughly wound a turban!One wonders,what example they are setting to the younger generations!
It is not uncommon today to find , that many who claim to be Sikhs,have never ever grown uncut hair, and only worn the turban for their wedding day or one function in life!Thus the skill is totally zero in turban tying!
Previously, young children commenced with tying their hair in a knot
with a handkerchief to cover the joora[knot of hair]
As they grew up they wore patkas.Sikh athletes and sportsmen were
commonly seen to use patkas during sports activities.It almost
impossible to see any Sikh with a patka playing sports these days.It is
a vanishing sight sadly!It is a rarity that exists only in the Sikh
Museums.
With the current advent of 'patkas' , some ready made ,by young and
often older matured males,it is very disconcerting and very worrying
issue,that seeing this ,the younger generation will completely loose the art of wounding/tying the turban around the head.
Some even come up with the most sickly excuses,that were never
felt,seen or ever heard in the times of and by their brave forefathers.The
excuses range from my head being heavy, to headaches to hard to tie a
knot of hair, to I am feeling out of place and shy among the non
Sikhs,to , finding it hard to dry after washing or bath!The line of
excuses may surpass even the fabled tales of Ali Baba and forty
thieves!Some to please their parents & families put on a turban but of
a very short length!
Again with passage of time, the length of the turban has shortenned,
and small turbans that often do not match the size of the head face are seen around. The biggest culprits doing such are the Sikhs of
Afghanistan and Delhi, with their ready made "delhi patka"!Sometimes
the Afgahn sikh turbans look very much a haji skull cap!Thus 3/4 metre long turbans have become very common these days, if at
all!
Thus with such small turbans on the head, they do not present the
majestic and graceful graandiose personality of the traditional Sikh
image , nor be fit the title of a SARDAR-chief, that Sikhs are commonly and proudly associated with and refered to as all over India, Nepal, Myanmar, Iran and Afghanistan.!There is no "sardar" in such rduced turbans nor any Sardari[an aura aof splendour] in the persona!A SARDAR only reflects the real personality in a smart and appropriately sized turban,not a piece of cloth used as patka!
Sikhs continue to face challenges around the world with regards to the
turban, but sadly in our own midsts and "homeland"-the land of FIVE
rivers, where reigns supreme the Gurbani of the GURUS, and where every
inch of land has been graced by the footsteps of the Gurus [rishis,
bhagats, pirs and munnis] and the Sikh martyrs,includng the Four
Sahibzades[Princes] of the magnificient Tenth Master Guru Gobind Singh
and his Sikh warriors, in the Punjab, the turban is being disrespected,
dishonoured and taken off like a cap, by the law enforcers of the
"SIKH" nationalist party!The Akal Takhat sits by and watches in silence
of the lambs, in its midst!
Western influences, the rivers of alcohol galore ,and drugs has
distanced the Sikh youth from the moral and ethical highground of the
Gurus and the faith, thus their identity as well.
The turban shops are now saying that due to the discarding of the
articles of faith, the turbans are not selling as popularly as they
used to at one time.Many are trying hard to run turban competitions
to encourage the resurgence and revival of turban wearing,many are
trying to produce films and documentaries,this can only be beneficial if the youth revert back to adopting their old values, skills and Guru given spirituality.
The blame for loss of this skill is not entirely at the footsteps of
the Sikh youth and families but also the supreme body of the Sikhs,
the Akal Takhat, the Gurduaras & their parbandhaks[who more than often
are not following even the basic sikh code of conduct or wearing
turbans themselves, but unashamedly lay claim to the Gurduaras without
a Sikh identity among themselves] the granthis who are often making up
nonsensical stories about Sikhi as they waffle along..and the blind
faith of the sangats that do not see difference between rituals and
GURBANI!
Gurcharan Singh ,Kulim
Kamuning Hills, Chigwell.
As many Sikhs shed the most important article of their faith,the hair
grown to the natural length , the size and length of the Sikh turban
shrinks in size for those who religiously continue to maintain their
long uncut hair shrinks in size.
Once a upon a time,not too long ago, only a mere 100 years back , the
splendorous Sikh turban seen on the leading Sikh royalty and their families and the Sikhs in the services , stood out grandly,mesmerising anyone,everyone and holding them in awe, by it grandeur.The turban measured about 8-9 yards.
In those yester years after a young Sikh child underwent the
dastaar bandi [turban tying/adoption/acceptance ceremony],around the
age of 13/14, the children were seriously taught and learnt how to put
on the turban with skill.As the child grew, he mastered the skill
watching his father and other male relatives in the family, until his
turban grew along with him into the any unique majestic style the
family had traditionally been used to.
In the yester year period ,a 5 yard turban of 'mal mal'[muslin] cloth
was starched and wound round the head skillfully,and graciously
elegantly within minutes resulting into a uniquely sophisticated and
sumptuous crown that befitted only the Kings and Nawabs of the great
Indian-Sikh royalty. Many would see no need for a mirror either, when
putting on the turban.
Very ironically, these days many of the Sikh youth see this skill as a
time consuming chore that they feel tired with repeating daily,and
feel the turban has gone by "it' s sell by date" and is no longer a
necessary part of their religious heritage! Many also have an identity
crisis as they try to fit in with the larger community around them ,
who more than often are not Sikhs and lack the understanding and
significience of the turban in matters spiritual of the Sikh faith.The
size of the turban shrank!
The Guru Gobind Singh made the Sikh to stand out, but many with
inferiority complex prefer to "blend in" and become a mediocre. A Sikh
is supposed to be a lighthouse not a 'wave' among millions of'
waves'struggling to blend in!
Over the last six to seven years, turban shops [and e-turban apps]
have sprout up in most parts of the Punjab and other centres of
significant Sikh population , where clients[Sikhs] wishing to learn the
turban skill and be able to skillfully put on a turban are charged fees between R 30- R500!
This is a skill that literally existed commonly in every Sikh family or
household until about 40 years ago.Along with the many ill changes that
have taken place, it is said the use of bright colours for the turbans
only became very common, after the screening of a film with religious
message, about 50 years ago, Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai,where an actor Shuka Singh [Inderjit Singh Johal in real life] sported very many colourful turbans.This lit the desire among the Sikh youth to copy and adopt larger and more colourful turbans as a fashion statement, while still following the
tenets of their faith!
Since then the practice of wearing a 8-9 metre turban revitalised
into being,commonly.Often two similar turbans were also sewn together
creating a larger magnificant turban.They also matched the turbans to
the type of clothing they wore,ensuring they kept up to date with the changing fashion of clothing!
Fast track fifty into today, however, this is now changing, the youth
in Punjab and elsewhere are using shorter length of cloth for the
turban.It is a fact many are discarded the turban all together,irrespective of the fact it is one of the articles
of their faith.Patitpoona [shedding/contravention of religious
principles/articles ] has increased among the young Sikh.Some have
adopted a dual identity-with their hair cut, but wearing of a turban
for functions or a visit to the Gurduara [Sikh house of worship].Others
have taken to wearing a smaller sized turban, citing 'convenience' for
an excuse.Others' turbans look almost like a hat, which Sikhs are
specifically forbidden to wear over their long hair, tied in a knot
over the head!
Even those who have not shed their hair, are often seen
wearing a basebal cap or a simple patka [a bandana type] small
cloth/sometimes a large handkerchief over their heads to cover the long haired knot .The cloth cannot be in any way called a turban.It is acceptable to wear this during sporting activity or at home, but not when one is decently dressed out in public.With a beard, such small covers over the head,present a ridiculously commical look of a Sikh!They invite
negative criticism, and then wonder why the world does not understand
them.
The current apathy towards their own national identity is a matter of
grave concern for the older generations as well as the entire Sikh
community, who see such practices as a decline and deviation from the
well defined path of of the religious identity.
Bollywood and general TV influences are being blamed for such negative
effects upon the Sikh youth, as many are more than often ignorant and
ill informed about the significance and importance of their Sikh history and identity.Many of the Sikh youth have not aquired the basic skills of turban tying , and others have lost the skill and knoweldge on how to wound a proper turban skillfully.
Some youngsters have been seen attending the turban shops to stick on a small patka on their heads!It has also become a common scenario in the
Gurduaras to see matured male Sikhs more than often with patkas upon their heads, presenting a sight as alien to the traditional male Sikh personality and larger than life character, and often provoking mirth and amusement from those around, both Sikhs and more so non Sikhs, who do recognise the majestic turban but not know what to make out such towel like covering.Some of these Sikhs may be fathers to children!They may not know even how to roughly wound a turban!One wonders,what example they are setting to the younger generations!
It is not uncommon today to find , that many who claim to be Sikhs,have never ever grown uncut hair, and only worn the turban for their wedding day or one function in life!Thus the skill is totally zero in turban tying!
Previously, young children commenced with tying their hair in a knot
with a handkerchief to cover the joora[knot of hair]
As they grew up they wore patkas.Sikh athletes and sportsmen were
commonly seen to use patkas during sports activities.It almost
impossible to see any Sikh with a patka playing sports these days.It is
a vanishing sight sadly!It is a rarity that exists only in the Sikh
Museums.
With the current advent of 'patkas' , some ready made ,by young and
often older matured males,it is very disconcerting and very worrying
issue,that seeing this ,the younger generation will completely loose the art of wounding/tying the turban around the head.
Some even come up with the most sickly excuses,that were never
felt,seen or ever heard in the times of and by their brave forefathers.The
excuses range from my head being heavy, to headaches to hard to tie a
knot of hair, to I am feeling out of place and shy among the non
Sikhs,to , finding it hard to dry after washing or bath!The line of
excuses may surpass even the fabled tales of Ali Baba and forty
thieves!Some to please their parents & families put on a turban but of
a very short length!
Again with passage of time, the length of the turban has shortenned,
and small turbans that often do not match the size of the head face are seen around. The biggest culprits doing such are the Sikhs of
Afghanistan and Delhi, with their ready made "delhi patka"!Sometimes
the Afgahn sikh turbans look very much a haji skull cap!Thus 3/4 metre long turbans have become very common these days, if at
all!
Thus with such small turbans on the head, they do not present the
majestic and graceful graandiose personality of the traditional Sikh
image , nor be fit the title of a SARDAR-chief, that Sikhs are commonly and proudly associated with and refered to as all over India, Nepal, Myanmar, Iran and Afghanistan.!There is no "sardar" in such rduced turbans nor any Sardari[an aura aof splendour] in the persona!A SARDAR only reflects the real personality in a smart and appropriately sized turban,not a piece of cloth used as patka!
Sikhs continue to face challenges around the world with regards to the
turban, but sadly in our own midsts and "homeland"-the land of FIVE
rivers, where reigns supreme the Gurbani of the GURUS, and where every
inch of land has been graced by the footsteps of the Gurus [rishis,
bhagats, pirs and munnis] and the Sikh martyrs,includng the Four
Sahibzades[Princes] of the magnificient Tenth Master Guru Gobind Singh
and his Sikh warriors, in the Punjab, the turban is being disrespected,
dishonoured and taken off like a cap, by the law enforcers of the
"SIKH" nationalist party!The Akal Takhat sits by and watches in silence
of the lambs, in its midst!
Western influences, the rivers of alcohol galore ,and drugs has
distanced the Sikh youth from the moral and ethical highground of the
Gurus and the faith, thus their identity as well.
The turban shops are now saying that due to the discarding of the
articles of faith, the turbans are not selling as popularly as they
used to at one time.Many are trying hard to run turban competitions
to encourage the resurgence and revival of turban wearing,many are
trying to produce films and documentaries,this can only be beneficial if the youth revert back to adopting their old values, skills and Guru given spirituality.
The blame for loss of this skill is not entirely at the footsteps of
the Sikh youth and families but also the supreme body of the Sikhs,
the Akal Takhat, the Gurduaras & their parbandhaks[who more than often
are not following even the basic sikh code of conduct or wearing
turbans themselves, but unashamedly lay claim to the Gurduaras without
a Sikh identity among themselves] the granthis who are often making up
nonsensical stories about Sikhi as they waffle along..and the blind
faith of the sangats that do not see difference between rituals and
GURBANI!
Gurcharan Singh ,Kulim
Kamuning Hills, Chigwell.
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