Pagdi: A Story Of Nobility, Admiration, And Love

"There is nothing wrapped in my turban but God." - Mansur Al-Hallaj The colorful turbans adorning the heads of men from Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat have lured many into finding more about its backstory. The kaleidoscopic turban, neatly folded in pleats, sits like a crown on its head, giving off a royal vibe and a sense of identity. Apart from enhancing their personality multifariously, the turban has a tale to tell.

Wrapping The Pagdi In Style; Image Source: Webneel

<p>India, the nation of many cultures, sects, and beliefs, is home to a plethora of unique customs and rituals. The various clothes covering India's vast terrain are one of its most remarkable features. The headpiece or headdress is one of the most stunningly impressive aspects of the clothing.</p><p><br></p><p>Have you ever heard of the Pagdi Museum located in Amritsar? Lined with mannequins, their heads are decorated with turbans of all kinds. Beside the figurines are white boards that tell us the nitty-gritty of the various types of turbans present in the museum. This might sound fascinating and unbelievable to most of you as you might think what is so special about these cloth pieces that a separate museum was built to display them. Well, the theory of turbans is not as simple as it sounds.</p><p><br></p><p>The tale of turbans started in the Middle East. Numerous instances tell us how people from ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, Sumerian, and Babylonian wore turbans on their heads. Most of us believe turbans were confined within the Indian borders and only Sikhs wore a turban. But this isn't the case as the&nbsp;<em>pagdis</em>&nbsp;were spread far and wide. A style of turban called&nbsp;<em>phakeolis</em>&nbsp;was first worn by the Byzantine army men way back in 400-600. The enchanting Greek frescoes of the 10th century portray the civilians of Byzantine adorning their heads with turbans.</p><p><br></p>

Tale Of Turbans; Image Source: Saatchi Art

<p>When one talks about the history of turbans, it goes back to thousands of years, considering it as an integral part of India's indigenous culture; turbans have a special significance within the confines of the Indian border. Known by various names like&nbsp;<em>Saafa</em>,&nbsp;<em>Kapalika</em>,&nbsp;<em>Pagg</em>,&nbsp;<em>Shirastran</em>,&nbsp;<em>Shirovesh</em>, and&nbsp;<em>Shiravashtra</em>, innumerable varieties of turbans adorn India's secular heads. Wearing headgear adds to the beauty and elegance of Indian dress culture.</p><p><br></p><p>According to the research conducted by Dr. Gautam Chatterjee, the first reference to turbans was found in prehistoric rock paintings made by hunters and gatherers thirty thousand years ago. Historical sites like Kerala, Kumaon, and Bhimbetka consist of rock paintings that portray dancing and hunting figurines wearing headgears and headdresses. In ancient Vedic books,&nbsp;<em>pagdi</em>&nbsp;has been mentioned during a&nbsp;<em>yajna</em>.</p><p><br></p><p>The turbans in ancient times were draped in enormous sizes, and the loose embroidered end of the&nbsp;<em>pagdi</em>&nbsp;flows freely. Earlier, the turbans were worn only by saints and royals, and they signified prosperity and grandeur. Not only men but there are several occasions in which women too donned turbans graciously. It is said that Lord Indra's wife, Indrani used to wear a headgear called Unisa.</p><p><br></p>

The Turban Theory; Image Source: The Tallenge Store

<p>The Islamic prophet named Muhammad wore a white turban that signified the concept of holiness and piousness. This was a special turban that was usually tied like a cloth on a cap and monikered as an&nbsp;<em>Imamah</em>. Later, worn by several Muslim kings and scholars, the shade of the&nbsp;<em>Imamah</em>&nbsp;was later transformed from white to green to represent Sufism and the concept of paradise. In Africa, the turban color is blue, which signifies the tribe to which a person belongs.</p><p><br></p><p>By the time the turbans traveled to the Indian subcontinent, they were known as&nbsp;<em>pagdi</em>. Usually, turbans are long clothes wrapped around the head in different styles. Every religion has varying colors, shapes, sizes, and techniques for wrapping a turban. In several religions,&nbsp;<em>pagdi</em>&nbsp;is considered a sign of respect and honor, and when it is offered to guests, it is seen as a sign of honor and friendship that we are presenting the guest.</p><p><br></p><p>Different colors signify different emotions. For instance, saffron represents martyrdom and is usually worn during parades; white represents peace and is traditionally worn by older people. Pink represents spring, worn on occasions like festivals and weddings. Interestingly, during World War 2, soldiers were required to wear a turban to symbolize courage, bravery, and a sense of Indianness.</p><p><br></p>

Turban - The Pride of India; Image Source: Shaadi Wish

<p>Most of the Indian subcontinent is no stranger to sweltering summers, cruel winters, dust, humidity, and piercing sunshine, except the southern states, where humidity and heat reign all year. As a result, protection against climatic and meteorological conditions was a fundamental cause for donning the&nbsp;<em>pagdi</em>&nbsp;in the past.</p><p><br></p><p>However, as time passed, city dwellers adopted a more appropriate and hassle-free contemporary attire, removing the Indian headdress from their daily lives. Except for the Sikh community, who wear it regularly, the traditional&nbsp;<em>pagdi</em>&nbsp;is reserved chiefly for cultural events, religious ceremonies, and special occasions such as weddings.</p><p><br></p><p>Turban is not just any headgear that the Sikhs adorn on their heads; it also has a socio-religious significance. Every turban form and color has a secret meaning that symbolizes the wearer's origin, dialect, religion, caste, and occupation.</p>