Sikh man wearing a dastar or pagh

A dastār (Punjabi: ਦਸਤਾਰ/دستار, from Persian: دستار; dast or "hand" with the agentive suffix -ār; also known as a ਪੱਗ paga or ਪੱਗੜੀ pagaṛī in Punjabi)[1] is an item of headwear associated with Sikhism, and is an important part of Sikh culture. The word is loaned from Persian through Punjabi. In Persian, the word dastār can refer to any kind of turban and replaced the original word for turban, dolband (دلبند), from which the English word is derived.

Among the Sikhs, the dastār is an article of faith that represents equality, honour, self-respect, courage, spirituality, and piety. The Khalsa Sikh men and women, who keep the Five Ks, wear the turban to cover their long, uncut hair (kesh). The Sikhs regard the dastār as an important part of the unique Sikh identity. After the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur, was sentenced to death by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru created the Khalsa and gave five articles of faith, one of which is unshorn hair, which the dastār covers.[2]

History

Preserved Dastar relic of Guru Gobind Singh
Contemporary or near-contemporary painting of Guru Hargobind, his turban-style is notable

The dastār has been an important part of the Sikh religion since the time of the First Guru, Guru Nanak who honoured Guru Angad Dev who honoured Guru Amar Das with a special dastār when he was declared the next Guru. When Guru Ram Das died, Guru Arjan was honoured with the dastār of Guruship.

Marne di pag Pirthiye badhi. Guriyaee pag Arjan Ladhi[3]

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

Kangha dono vaqt kar, paag chune kar bandhai. ("Comb your hair twice a day and tie your turban carefully, turn by turn.")

Bhai Rattan Singh Bhangu, one of the earliest Sikh historians, wrote in Sri Gur Panth Parkash:[4]

Doi vele utth bandhyo dastare, pahar aatth rakhyo shastar sambhare
Kesan ki kijo pritpal, nah(i) ustran se katyo vaal
Tie your dastār twice a day and wear shaster (weapons to protect dharma), and keep them with care, 24 hours a day.
Take good care of your hair. Do not cut your hair by blade.

Significance

Nihang Abchal Nagar (Nihangs from Hazur Sahib), 1844. Shows turban-wearing Sikh soldiers with chakrams.

In the Khalsa society, the turban signifies many virtues:

Equality
The Sikh society is an egalitarian one, and free of gender, religion, race, nationality or sexual orientation. The institution of Khalsa was based on "Aape Gur Chela", no master no slave.[2]
Spirituality
The dastār is a symbol of spirituality, holiness, and humility in Sikhism.
Honour and self-respect
The dastār is also a symbol of honour and self-respect. In the Punjabi culture, those who have selflessly served the community are traditionally honoured with turbans.
Piety and moral values
The dastār also signifies piety and purity of mind. In the Punjabi society, the Khalsa Sikhs are considered as protectors of the weak, even among the non-Sikhs. In the older times, the Khalsa warriors moved from village to village at night, during the battles. When they needed a place to hide from the enemy, the womenfolk, who had a very high degree of trust in them used to let them inside their houses. It was a common saying in Punjab: Aye nihang, booha khol de nishang ("The nihangs are at the door. Dear woman! go ahead open the door without any fear whatsoever.")
Courage
Sikhs wear a dastār, to cover their long hair, which is never cut, as per the command of their previous Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. There are many references in the Sikh history that describe how Guru Gobind Singh personally tied dumalas (dastār) on the heads of both his elder sons Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, and how he personally gave them arms, decorated them like bridegrooms, and sent them to the battlefield at Chamkaur Sahib where they both died as martyrs. A blue-colored turban is especially identified with courage, sacrifice and martyrdom.
Friendship and relationship
Pag Vatauni ("exchange of turban") is a Punjabi custom, in which the men exchange dastārs with their closest friends. Once they exchange turbans they become friends for life and forge a permanent relationship. They take a solemn pledge to share their joys and sorrows under all circumstances. Exchanging turban is a glue that can bind two individuals or families together for generations.
Sayings

There are many Punjabi idioms and proverbs that describe how important is a dastār in one's life. Bhai Gurdas writes:[5]

Tthande khuhu naike pag visar(i) aya sir(i) nangai
Ghar vich ranna(n) kamlia(n) dhussi liti dekh(i) kudhange
("A man, after taking a bath at the well during winter time, forgot his dastār at the well and came home bareheaded.
When the women saw him at home without a dastār, they thought someone had died and they started to cry.")

Uniform of Sikhism

Sikhs are easily recognized by their distinctive turbans, as well as their other articles of faith.

The dastār is considered an integral part of the unique Sikh identity. The bare head is not considered appropriate as per gurbani. If a Sikh wants to become one with his/her guru, he/she must look like a guru (wear a dastār). Guru Gobind Singh stated:

Khalsa mero roop hai khaas. Khalse me hau karo niwas.
("Khalsa is a true picture of mine. I live in Khalsa.")

Maintaining long hair and tying the dastār is seen as a token of love, obedience of the wishes of Sikh gurus, and acceptance to the Will of God. A quote from Sikhnet:[6]

The dastār is our Guru's gift to us. It is how we crown ourselves as the Singhs and Kaurs who sit on the throne of commitment to our own higher consciousness. For men and women alike, this projective identity conveys royalty, grace, and uniqueness. It is a signal to others that we live in the image of Infinity and are dedicated to serving all. The turban doesn't represent anything except complete commitment. When you choose to stand out by tying your dastār, you stand fearlessly as one single person standing out from six billion people. It is a most outstanding act.

Styles of dastārs

Nok Pagg

This is a very common Sikh Turban style and is most common in the Indian state of Punjab, India. The Nok is a double wide Dastar. Six meters of the dastar cloth are cut in half then in two or three meter pieces. They are sewn together to make it double wide, thus creating a "double patti" or a nok dastar. This dastar is larger than most Sikh dastars but contains fewer wraps around the head.

Chand Tora Dumalla

Chand Tora Dumalla with many shaster

The Chand Tora Dumalla is the style of turban generally worn by Nihang Sikhs. This is a warrior style turban meant for going into battle. The "Chand Tora" is a metal symbol consisting of a crescent and a double edged sword, it is held in place at the front of the turban by a woven chainmail cord tied in a pattern within the turban to protect the head from slashing weapons. This was not the original battle turban for the Khalsa as the Dastar Bunga was the first.

Amritsari Dumalla

This is the most common Dumalla Dastar. Unlike the Taksali Dumalla this one slants backwards and Amritdharis keep Kirpans in the pouches on the sides. It consists of-

  • One five meter piece (mostly Navy or electric blue)
  • one 11 meter piece any color, commonly sabz (white) and pavo blue. Both pieces are 35 cm wide, and referred to in Amritsar as Dhamala Material

Taksali Dumala

This is a very simple and basic Dumala Sikh dastar. This is the most popular among the Akhand Kirtan Jatha and the Damdami Taksal.

Mughali Pagg

Circa 1750 painting depicting Guru Hargobind wearing a turban-style that the Sikh gurus wore while being at peace. Sikhs call this the 'Royal Indic Pagg', it was worn by rulers in the late mediaeval-era Indian subcontinent

This turban stemmed from Rajput tradition, and was adopted by the Mughals starting with Akbar and would be continued among further Mughals. The Gurus from Guru Hargobind used this and it is only worn by extremely cultural and traditional Sikhs.

Darbara Singh Dumala

The Darbara Singh Dumala, named after the second Jathedar of the Budha Dal, was the turban worn by some Nihang warriors. It is much larger than other turbans and is used to keep many weapons. The turban has two loose cloths from the turban.

Barnala Shahi Pagg

Another common Sikh dastār style for men. Unlike the "double patti" dastār, the dastār is longer and goes ten or more times around the head. If you use the "Notai" technique and have a big joora (hair knot), do not make it right in front at your forehead. You will end up tying the dastār on the joora, and it will make your dastār look very high and big. According to modern Punjabi style the last (larh) of dastār is given a "V" shape by using the dastār pin. Sikhs also use a specially designed dastār needle (Punjabi: Salai,ਸਲਾਈ OR Baaj,ਬਾਜ) to tuck their hair inside from dastār and patka and also to maintain dastār cleanliness. The Barnala Shahi is common around the city of Barnala and the Base of the turban is smaller than the top.

Wattan Wali Pagg

The Wattan-Wali Pagg is a size bigger than the other turban and is worn by Sikhs who are avid learners and Sikhs who are proud of their heritage and culture. It is divided in the middle due to the amount of wraps it rounds at the top.

Patiala Shahi Pagg

Nowadays this type of dastār is widely famous in the newer generation. This type of dastār was first tied by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. From his name the name of this type is originated 'Patiala Shahi'.

Dastar Bunga

The original Sikh turban of the Khalsa Fauj, the Dastar Bunga. The Nihang's pharla is being covered at the tip of the turban.

Dastar bunga, or turban fortress in Persian, is a style of turban used by a specific sect within the Sikhs, the Akali Nihangs (egoless immortals). As an essential part of their faith the warriors used the turban as a store for their expansive range of weapons.

This was the original Turban of the Khalsa Fauj of the Gurus. The Gurus wore this style during battle and the Mughal style while in peace. The Dastar Bunga is common in the Nihang traditions. The dark blue tunic (chola) and turban (dumalla) surmounted with quoit and dagger were first worn in 1699 at the time of the first Khalsa initiation ceremony of the double-edged sword (khanda-pahul). Next came the turban-flag (farra or farla), which was introduced by Guru Gobind Singh in 1702 during a clash with a Rajput hill king in the vicinity of Anandpur. The Khalsa's battle standard was cut down when its bearer, Akali Man Singh Nihang, fell wounded. Henceforth, the Guru decided that the dark blue flag should be worn as a part of Man Singh's turban, fluttering from its peak should be a yellow loose cloth for as long as its bearer had life in him. It is said that the full magnificence of the Akal-Nihang uniform emerged the following year.

Gurmukh Dastar

Gurmukhi Dastar is worn by Amritdhari Sikhs. This is worn by the current Akal Takht Jathedar and is worn by 'Gurmukhs' or 'Gianis'.

Puratan Nok Pagg

Sikh soldiers with Puratan Nok Paggs and Pharlas.

The later British Sikh soldiers also wore the Pharla which looks like a loose cloth extending from a Nok Pagg. It also sometimes had a Shamla or loose cloth running down the back and a turla or loose cloth going from the side.

Amritsari Shahi Pagg

The Amritsari Shahi Pagg is similar to the Barnala Shahi Pagg except it is neater and is much sturdier. The top flap of the Turban is rotated straight and holds the turban together.

Kenyan or UK style turban

This is a common dastār among young men in the Sikh Diaspora. It originated in Kenya, hence its name, among the Sikhs there. In the 1970s many Kenyan Sikhs migrated to the UK, making it popular there. Its design is very smart and elegant. Famous people like Jus Reign, Raj Grewal, singer Jassi Sidhu wear different variations of this style.

In May 2009, The Times of India reported that British researchers were trying to make a "bulletproof turban" that would allow the Sikhs in the British police to serve in firearms units.[7]

Harassment faced by turban-wearing Sikhs

After the September 11, 2001, attacks in USA, a number of dastār-wearing Sikhs faced assaults by some Americans who confused them with Muslims, who were being associated with terrorism.[8][9] Due to Sikh turbans resembling the turban that Osama bin Laden wore in his most iconic photo, United States Department of Justice worked with the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) to issue a poster aimed at getting Americans acquainted with Sikh turbans.[10]

Conflicts with civil law

Indian troops man a Bren gun during the Western Desert Campaign in World War II. The Sikh soldier is wearing a dastār, his non-Sikh companion is wearing a Brodie steel helmet

In modern times, there have been conflicts between Sikhs – especially those outside India – and laws which conflict with always wearing a dastār. Sikh soldiers refused to wear helmets during World War I and World War II. Many Sikhs have refused to remove the dastār even in jails. Sikh scholar and social activist Bhai Randhir Singh underwent a fast to be able to wear a dastār in prison.

In the UK in 1982, the headmaster of a private school refused to admit an orthodox Sikh as a pupil unless he removed the dastār and cut his hair. This led to the long legal battle, Mandla v. Dowell Lee, a case which contributed to the creation of the legal term "ethno-religious".[11][12]

In Canada in 1990, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Baltej Singh Dhillon, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, should be allowed to wear a dastār while on duty. See the case of Grant v. Canada A.G (1995) 125 D.L.R. (4th) 556 (F.C.A.) aff'd (1994) 81 F.T.R. 195 (F.C.T.D.) (Reed J.) where the court said that the Sikh RCMP officer had a constitutional right to wear his dastār and that the government's decision to accommodate him was required to protect freedom of religion:

"The defendants and the intervenors, particularly the able argument of Ms. Chotalia for the Alberta Civil Liberties Association, turn the plaintiffs' argument respecting discrimination on its head. They argue that the Commissioner's decision was designed to prevent discrimination occurring to Khalsa Sikhs. As such they argue that that decision offends none of the provisions of the Charter, indeed that it is required by section 15 of the Charter." para 103 Shirish Chotalia, Alberta lawyer, represented the Sikh Society of Calgary, the Alberta Civil Liberties Association, and the Friends of the Sikhs, pro bono.[13]

In the United States in 2002, Jasjit Singh Jaggi, a Sikh traffic policeman employed with the New York Police Department, was forced to leave his job because he insisted on wearing a dastār on duty. He petitioned with the New York Human Rights Commission, and in 2004 a US judge ruled that he should be reinstated.[14]

In France in 2004, the Sikh community protested against the introduction of a law prohibiting the display of any religious symbols in state-run schools.[15][16] The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee urged the French Government to review the bill, stating that the ban would have grave consequences for the Sikhs.[17] The Government of India discussed the matter with the French officials, who stated that an exception for turbaned Sikh boys in French public schools was not possible.[18]

In 2007, the Canadian government introduced new procedures for accommodation of Sikhs in regard to passport photos, driver licensing, and other legal licensing. This bill was also supported by the Sikh Council of Canada.

In April 2009, Capt. Kamaljit Singh Kalsi and 2nd Lt. Tejdeep Singh Rattan challenged a U.S. Army order that they remove their turbans and shave their beards.[19] In March 2010, Rattan became the first Sikh to graduate Army Officer School at Fort Sam Houston since the exemption was eliminated in 1984; a waiver was granted for his religion. Kalsi will also attend basic training.[20]

In Ireland, Ravinder Singh Oberoi applied to become a member of the voluntary police force Garda Reserve but was not permitted to wear a dastār in 2007.[21] He unsuccessfully claimed discrimination on grounds of race and religion; the High Court ruled in 2013 on a preliminary issue that he could not claim under employment equality legislation as he was not an employee and was not in vocational training.[22] But in 2019, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris granted exemptions for uniform alterations based on the Garda uniform code to allow officers from some ethnic communities to wear clothing related to their religion.[21] Oberoi is currently working in the GR as of November 2020.[21]

Instances of acceptance

Officer cadets of the Royal Military College of Canada wearing a dastār. Sikh members of the Canadian Armed Forces are permitted to wear the dastār in most situations.

In 2012 British media reported that a Guardsman of the Scots Guards Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar became the first Sikh to guard Buckingham Palace wearing a dastār instead of the traditional bearskin.[23]

Sikh members of the Canadian Armed Forces are permitted to wear the dastār on all orders of dress within the forces, although the unit commander retains the right to order for adjustments should a conflict arise with operational safety.[24] The colour of the dastār for Sikh service members within the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force are required to match the colours of their unit's headgear. Sikhs serving within the Royal Canadian Navy are required to wear a white dastār when peaked caps are worn, and a black dastār when berets are worn. The unit's cap badge must also be worn on the dastār. Additionally, some units in the Canadian Armed Forces add a ribbon matching their regimental colours, worn crossed behind the cap badge and tucked in at the back.

Helmet exemption

In several parts of the world, Sikh riders are exempted from legal requirements to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle or a bicycle, which cannot be done without removing the dastār. These places include India, Nepal and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Manitoba.[13] Other places include Malaysia, Hong Kong,[25] Singapore, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.[26] In Queensland, Australia, riders of bicycles and mobility scooters are exempt from wearing an approved helmet, but not motorcyclists.[27][28]

In 2008, Baljinder Badesha, a Sikh man living in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, lost a court case in which he challenged a $110 ticket received for wearing a dastār instead of a helmet while riding his motorcycle.[13][29][30]

In September 2016 a court in Quebec, Canada, ruled that Sikh truck drivers working at the Port of Montreal must wear hard hats when required for safety reasons, effectively requiring them to remove their dastār. The judge stated that their safety outweighed their religious freedom. Previously Sikh drivers were able to avoid wearing hard hats if they remained within their vehicle, but this increased the loading times and was not commercially acceptable.[31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dehkhoda, Ali Akbar. "Loghatnāmeh-ye Dehkhodā". Vajehyab. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 “Importance of turban in Sikhism”, earlytimes.in. 2018-05-29.
  3. ↑ "Partakh Hari," Jiwni Guru Arjan Dev Ji, by Principal Satbir Singh
  4. ↑ Bhai Rattan Singh Bhangu. Sri Gur Granth Parkash. Page 78.
  5. ↑ Vara(n) Bhai Gurdas, Var 32, pauri 19
  6. ↑ Learn How To Tie Different Sikh Turbans
  7. ↑ Bulletproof turbans for Sikh cops. The Times of India. 8 May 2009.
  8. ↑ "Sikh attacked in another hate crime in New York". CNN-IBN. 2008-01-27. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
  9. ↑ Vanessa Garnica (2003-04-18). "Sikhs: Turbans don't mean terrorism". The Oracle. Archived from the original on 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  10. ↑ "US initiative to explain turbans". The Tribune, Chandigarh. 2004-12-16. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  11. ↑ "Turban or not turban — that is the question (Mandla v. Dowell Lee)". Liverpool Law Review. Netherlands: Springer. 5 (1): 75–90. March 1983. doi:10.1007/BF01079986. S2CID 189918007.
  12. ↑ Moore, Joan Brooke (1985). The politics of litigating discrimination : a case study of Mandla v. Dowell Lee (Thesis). University of Oxford. OCLC 123433705.
  13. 1 2 3 Precedents buoy Sikh's turban fight, lawyer says
  14. ↑ "Sikh policeman wins turban case". BBC News. 2004-04-30. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  15. ↑ Rana, Yudhvir (2004-01-06). "French turban ban gets Sikh group into action". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  16. ↑ Ranvir Nayar (2004-01-17). "French Sikhs defend the turban". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  17. ↑ Rana, Yudhvir (2004-03-24). "SGPC urges French govt to review turban ban". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  18. ↑ "France can't make exceptions on turban ban: Envoy". CNN-IBN. 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  19. ↑ "Sikhs fight Army over bans on turbans, uncut hair". CNN. 2009-04-15. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  20. ↑ 1st Sikh in decades graduates Army Officer School
  21. 1 2 3 "Badge of distinction: Meet the first Sikh in the Garda Reserves". The Irish Times.
  22. ↑ ''Garda Commissioner v Singh Oberoi'' [2013] IEHC 267.
  23. ↑ "Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar, Sikh Soldier, Wears Turban On Buckingham Palace Guard Duty". The Huffington Post. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "Dress instructions Section 3: Religious and spiritual accommodation". Government of Canada. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  25. ↑ Legislative Council Bills Committee on Race Discrimination Bill LC Paper No. CB(2)1019/06-07(03)
  26. ↑ Motor-Cycle Crash Helmets (Religious Exemption) Act 1976
  27. ↑ Sikh cyclist in Australia wins right not to have to wear a helmet
  28. ↑ Queensland motorcycle safety rules
  29. ↑ Sikhs have worn helmets 'throughout their history'
  30. ↑ Douglas, Pam (2008-03-15). "Sikh, backers to appeal motorcycle helmet ruling". The Star. Toronto. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  31. ↑ "Quebec Sikh workers must wear safety helmets when required, judge rules | Toronto Star". The Toronto Star. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-23.
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