Turban

A turban (from Persian دولبند‌, dulband; via Middle French turbant) is a type of headwear based on cloth winding. Featuring many variations, it is worn as customary headwear, usually by men. Communities with prominent turban-wearing traditions can be found in the Indian Subcontinent, Afghanistan,South Asia the Arabian Peninsula, the Near East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and parts of the Swahili Coast.

Wearing turbans is common among Sikhs, who refer to it as a Dastar. In certain other faith communities, the headgear also serves as a religious observance, including among Muslims, who regard turban-wearing as Sunnah Mu'akkadah (confirmed tradition).Jews formerly wore turbans in Biblical times. Greeks, since ancient times, do wear a distinctive style of turbans.

Additionally, turbans have often been worn by nobility, regardless of religious background. They are also sometimes donned to protect hair or as a headwrap for women following cancer treatments.

History

Dastar

A Dastaar (Punjabi: ਦਸਤਾਰ, dastāar, from Persian: دستار‎‎) or Pagṛi (Punjabi: ਪਗੜੀ) or Pagg (Punjabi: ਪੱਗ), is an item of headgear associated with Sikhism and is an important part of the Sikh culture. Wearing a Sikh turban is mandatory for all Amritdhari (baptized) Sikh men.

Among the Sikhs, the Dastaar is an article of faith that represents honour, self-respect, courage, spirituality, and piety. The Khalsa Sikh men and women, who keep the Five Ks, wear the turban partly to cover their long, uncut hair (kesh). The Khalsa Sikhs regard the Dastaar as an important part of the unique Sikh identity.

History

The Dastaar has been an important part of the Sikh religion since the time of the First Guru. Guru Angad Dev honoured Guru Amar Das with a special Dastaar when he was declared the next Guru. At the time when Guru Ram Das passed on, Guru Arjun Dev was honoured with the Dastaar of Guruship.

Guru Gobind Singh, the last human Sikh Guru, wrote:

Bhai Rattan Singh Bhangu, one of the earliest Sikh historians, wrote in Sri Gur Panth Parkash: