Time to spread the turban legend

When it comes to turbans, no country has as vast a repertoire as India. Many, if not most, Indians can tell the difference between a Sikh dastaar, a Mysore peta, an Assamese fa ho ho, a Rajput safa and many more.

But westerners are largely clueless about it and therefore frequently equate any kind of unfamiliar headgear with the Taliban. That has had unfortunate repercussions, particularly on Sikhs living abroad, so the Turban Awareness Day observed by the British parliament this March—echoing efforts in the US— was welcome.

But last week’s Trooping the Colour ceremony in London where a Sikh soldier’s sleek black pagri marked him out among the rows of towering bearskin hats of his fellow Coldstream Guardsmen has probably created far more turban awareness.


His turban was light, not cumbersome and more apt for sweltering June weather, so he must have been the envy of his peers.

Besides the fact that the traditional 17th century Guards headgear bears an uncanny resemblance to Marge Simpson’s updo, costs for acquiring them have soared 500%.

As the skins are obtained from the annual “culling”—a euphemism for sanctioned killing—of black bears in Canada, a more political and ecologically correct ceremonial headgear is surely in order. They should consult the Indian Army, which has the most striking ceremonial uniforms in the world.