Nov 17, 2011, LUDHIANA: Jagtar Singh Jaggi is no ordinary professional. He earns his livelihood by tying turbans, which not many professionals in city would have thought of.
He runs a shop " Jaggi Turban Training Centre" in Brown Road area where he ties turbans for his Sikh clients and also trains people in the art.
On asking what made him thought of this profession, says Jaggi, "I used to run a hosiery shop in Dhuri Line area. In 2004, a customer, Jaswinder Singh, who used to get his turban tied by me, told me that I am very good at the art. That was the first time I thought of exploring this as an option to earn livelihood."
During normal days, he gets about 20-50 customers, which include industrialists, businessmen, doctors, engineers, transporters, students and others. During wedding season, the number goes up to 50-80.
Jaggi says, "It takes me about 5-8 minutes to tie a turban. I do it in various styles, including Niku style (8.5 meters long), Grewaal style (8 meters), Daljit style (6.5 meters), Patiala Shahi (7.5 meters), NRI style (5.5 meters), American style and African.
About colours liked by Ludhianvis, Jaggi said red, white, violet, black, dark pink and maroon are preferred in all seasons. Khaki, coffee, grey, light pink and brown are in demand in summers while in winters, the popular colours are parrot, orange, sunflower, blue ink and rust. He said besides tying turbans, he trains students in the art and has even people coming from as far as Toronto in Canada to learn the art.
Another professional, Jagjit Singh of Raja turban training centre in the same area, says, "There are 3-4 other professionals who run turban training centres in Brown Road area." Twenty eight-year-old Nirpal Singh of Ahluwalia colony in Jamalpur, who runs a transport business, says, "I daily go to Jaggi turban tying centre to get my turban tied. Since he is a professional, my time is saved."
Jashanjot, a student of Model Town area, is also a regular at Jaggi's centre. He ties it in very different designs," says Jashanjot.
Rates Are....
At shop ` 70
At home `300
During wedding Up to `51,000 (this rate is for whole family)