The skull or the crown of the head is a critical part of the body. Covering the crown of the head with a many layered clothing not only is a sign of reverence to that area but also triggers the pressure points in the skull which in turn regulates blood circulation and mental activity. The turban is part of this identity aimed at promoting equality and brotherhood. Sikhs believe that wrapping the head with a tight turban securely in place helps the mind stay grounded and focused on the important things in life.
In fact, this belief is so strong that Sikh women also embrace the turban as a way of fostering self-reliance and equality in gender.
Everyone is royal and equal — During the initiation of the Khalsa, the Turban was prevalent in society as a sign of royalty. It represented the higher castes. Only the privileged and influential were allowed to wear a turban. By tearing down this system and by granting everyone an equal right to wear one, the turban was no longer seen as a status symbol. A pact was made among the Sikh brotherhood that in the event of a crisis, every man would be ready to assist his fellow brother in need.
And the turban is crucial to keeping this alive as a way of recognising each other. As a mark of devotion to the creator, he asked Sikh members to never cut their hair and to let it grow free. Uncut hair needs to be protected against the environment and a turban does the best job of it. Back to Blog. Previous Next. To promote this vision of divine oneness and social equality, Guru Nanak created institutions and religious practices. He established community centers and places of worship, wrote his own scriptural compositions and institutionalized a system of leadership gurus that would carry forward his vision.
The Sikh view thus rejects all social distinctions that produce inequities, including gender, race, religion and caste, the predominant structure for social hierarchy in South Asia. Serving the world is a natural expression of the Sikh prayer and worship. In the Sikh tradition, a truly religious person is one who cultivates the spiritual self while also serving the communities around them — or a saint-soldier.
The saint-soldier ideal applies to women and men alike. In this spirit, Sikh women and men maintain five articles of faith, popularly known as the five Ks. These are: kes long, uncut hair , kara steel bracelet , kanga wooden comb , kirpan small sword and kachera soldier-shorts.
Although little historical evidence exists to explain why these particular articles were chosen, the five Ks continue to provide the community with a collective identity, binding together individuals on the basis of a shared belief and practice. As I understand, Sikhs cherish these articles of faith as gifts from their gurus. Turbans are an important part of the Sikh identity. Both women and men may wear turbans. Like the articles of faith, Sikhs regard their turbans as gifts given by their beloved gurus, and their meaning is deeply personal.
The Sikh gurus adopted the turban , in part, to remind Sikhs that all humans are sovereign, royal and ultimately equal. After British colonizers in India seized power of Punjab in , where a majority of the Sikh community was based, Sikhs began migrating to various regions controlled by the British Empire, including Southeast Asia, East Africa and the United Kingdom itself.
The idea is an interesting one. Some might find it curious that, in order to seek equality, a woman might dress like a traditional Sikh man. But others argue a woman wearing a turban is a sign of empowerment.
Sarabjoth Kaur, 25, from Manchester, is one of them. She began wearing a turban two years ago. She appears draped in royal blue robes with a matching tightly wrapped turban. It has a metal shaster, a type of ancient Vedic weapon wedged into the front. Sarabjoth, a former bhangra dancer, says her faith became stronger after she witnessed devout white Sikhs wearing the turban whilst worshipping in India.
She strongly defends the right for women to wear the turban. They thought it would be difficult to get a job or how would I find a good husband," she says. They're still khalsa saint soldiers of the Guru and the khalsa isn't differentiated on gender.
When I tie my turban every morning I want to see my Guru. I feel a great sense of pride when I see my reflection as I think this is what my Guru looked like, this is what the khalsa looks like. Find out more. Image source, Getty Images. Sikh women have more traditionally worn headscarves.
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