Turban

{| align=right\n|\n|---\n| \n|}\nTurban (Arabic imamah, Persian dulband) is a headdress, of obscure Oriental origin, consisting of a long scarf wound round the head or an inner hat. Early Persians wore a conical cap sometimes encircled by bands of cloth, which may be considered one of the origins of the modern turban. The turban didn't become common among the Turks, but was common among the Ottoman sultans. Turban's shape, size and color varies and the cloth's length could be even 45 meters. In some ares, especially in Rajasthan the turban's size could indicate the position of the person in society. In India name of the turban is a pagdi. There exists different variations of the headdress, depending on the region and religion. In fact, in Rajasthan it is said that the style of the turban changes with every 15 km you travel. Other thing is that Rajput turbans are different from Sikh turbans, which are in turn different from the classical Arab turbans. The Sikh pagdi is also called dastar, which is a more respectful word in Punjabi for the turban. There are also royal turbans from different parts of India and the rural version of turban which is often just a towel wound round the head. In Arab culture, the turban (or imamah) has an important place. Ancient Arabs wore them and took pride in them; to be deprived of one's turban was humiliating, and knocking a man's turban off was considered an insult. In daily life, the turban was very useful for fending off the desert sand and protecting the face from high temperatures and strong sunlight. In modern Arabian Gulf countries, the turban has been replaced by the white or red-and-white checkered scarf (called ghutrah or shumagh), though the turban tradition is still strong in Oman (see Sultan Qabus of Oman wearing turban). In Sudan, a large white turban is worn and can indicate social status. Islamic clergymen can be seen wearing turbans, in particular Shia Muslim scholars who have become famous for them (e.g. Ayotallah Khomeini, Ayotallah Khamenei, Hizbullah head Sayyid Hasan Nasrullah, and newcomers to the world stage, like Iraq's Ayutallah Sistani). These are worn by Persian and Arab scholars alike; the black colour indicates descent from the Prophet Muhammad.

External Links:

• sikhpride.com images of turbans\n*The Sikh Turban \n*Why Sikhs Wear a Turban

Category:Turbans