As many Sikhs shed the most important article of their faith, the size and length of the Sikh turban still worn by those who continue to maintain their long hair shrinks in size.
Once a upon a time, only a mere 100 years ago, the Sikh turban seen on the leading Sikh royalties and their families and the services Sikhs, stoo...d out grandly, mesmerising anyone, measured about 8-9 yards. 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 within minutes
resulting in a sophisticated 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 significance of the turban in matters spiritual of the Sikh faith.
Over the last five to six years, turban shops sprout up in most parts of the Punjab and other centres of significant Sikh population , where clients wishing to learn the turban skill and learn skillfully to put on a turban are charged fees between Rupees 300-500!
This is a skill that literally existed commonly in every Sikh family or household until about 40 years ago. Along with the changes that have taken place, it is said the use of bright colours for the turbans only became very common after a religious film, that was screened 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 came into being, commonly. They matched the turbans to the type of clothing they wore, ensuring they kept up to date with the changing fashion of clothing!
However, this is now changing, with the youth using shorter length of
cloth for the turban, in light of the fact many are discarding 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 a hat, which Sikhs are spiritually 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 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 commercial look of a Sikh!
This is a matter of grave concern for the older generations as well as the entire Sikh community, who see such practices as lapses 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, many who 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 acquired the basic skills, and others have lost the skill and knowledge on how to wrap a proper turban skillfully. Some have been seen attending the turban shops to stick on a small patka on their heads! It has become a common scenario in the Gurduaras to see matured male Sikhs more than often with patkasupon their heads, presenting a sight as alien to the traditional male Sikh personality and human character. Some of these may be fathers to children! They may not know even how to roughly wrap a turban!
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!
Smaller and younger children commenced with tying their hair in a knot with a handkerchief then tied over it 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 is 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' by young and often older matured males, it is very disconcerting issue, that seeing this, the younger generation will completely loose the art of winding/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 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!
Slowly the length of the turban has shortened, and small turbans that often do match the size of the head face are seen around. One of the biggest culprits doing such are the Sikhs of Afghanistan! Sometimes their turbans look very much a haji skull cap! 3/4 metre long turbans have become very common these days!
Thus with such small turbans on the head, they do not present the majestic and graceful personality of the traditional Sikh image, nor the title of a SARDAR-chief, that Sikhs are commonly and proudly associated with! There is no sardar in such little turbans nor any Sardari in the persona! A SARDAR only reflects the real personality in a smart 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 midst 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, including 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 western influences, the rivers of alcoholic flow, and drugs has distanced the Sikh youth from the moral and ethical highground of the Gurus and the faith.
The turbans 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 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, theAkal 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 aboutsikhi 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.