Sketches by R.M. Singh (The Tribune, Chandigarh)

The word ‘Turban’ is derived from the ancient Persian word dulband through the Turkish tarbush. It is a common head-dress for men in Middle Eastern and South-Asian countries. As a form of head-dress it is of Semitic origin and was an essential part of the Israeli High Priest’s uniform in Moses’ day as stated in the Old Testament. In India, it is to be seen as worn by men depicted in the Ajanta caves and on the Sanchi Gateway.

Traditionally, wearing of turban was a sign of holiness and frequently, its size, material and style indicated the position and rank of the wearer. The Sanskrit word pak, from which the Punjabi word pagg is obviously derived stands for maturity and greyness of hair. Punjabi idiom and usage also testify to the importance of turban as a symbol of respectability. For example, pagg di laj rakkhna, pagg lahuna etc.

While other communities have gradually discarded the wearing of turban generally under the influence of western culture, for the Sikhs the turban has a religious significance. The Gurus wore turbans and their disciples naturally followed them. By the time of the sixth Guru Hargobind, turban wearing Sikhs began to think themselves equals of the beturbaned ruling class, the Mughals. When in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh manifested the Khalsa; he included the kes or unshorn hair as a mandatory symbol of faith to be maintained by all Sikhs. Turban, being essential to keep the hair neatly tied up, thus became an obligatory item of dress for the Sikh male. Over the last three centuries the turban has maintained its pre-eminent position in the life of a Sikh and in fact, along with the untrimmed hair, it has become a distinguishing feature of the Sikh male the world over.

This selection of articles highlights not only the symbolic and utilitarian importance of a turban for a Sikh but also discusses how the turban has become an indispensable part of the identity of a Sikh.

Turban- Symbol of Pre-eminence and Honor
By Principal Surjeet Singh
Thus a Sikh draws his dignity and eminence, or Sardari, from being in obedience to the Lord Creator alone, who is the only True Ruler. All the so-called worldly rulers are in His ultimate obedience, so that their claim to dominance or rule is false. Bhagat Kabir says: "No king is as great as God. These monarchs lasting four days, make false ostentations." (SGGS: p 856)

The Turban: Symbol of Sikh Identity
By W.H. McLeod
Why do Sikhs today attach such pre-eminent importance to the turban? Why has it become a primary symbol—one of the two primary symbols—of the Sikh, or at least of the grown Sikh male? The answer is not quite as obvious as one might think, for the turban has symbolic importance.

Patkas and Hats With Turbans as a Rite of Passage
By I.J. Singh
We were at a Sikh wedding in a little town that has a small but vibrant Sikh community. In some of the rituals and functions, the community appeared as if frozen in time and culture, but that is not what prompted me to write this essay. Rather it was the appearance of many young, and some not so young, Sikhs — many dressed formally — sporting patkas instead of traditional turbans.

My Turban, My Crown
By Dr Gurbakhsh Singh
In the mid-eighties, an international seminar was held on the Sikh faith in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The speakers were invited by the president of the gurdwara to address the Sangat briefly on Sunday. After morning Kirtan, the author and other speakers gave lectures for seven to ten minutes as planned by the management. The Sangat was emotionally charged when one of the speakers (a European-American having adopted the Sikh faith) described his experience of adopting the faith.