1/25/2013

The Differences In Middle Eastern Turbans

By Claudine MacDonald


Middle Eastern turbans are used for both cultural and religious purposes. They usually consist of a long cloth that is wrapped around the wearer's head in different styles. They are used by many different cultures in the area as a sign of religious devotion, sect, or social class. There are many different ways in which they are worn which vary from one population to the next.

The traditional turban worn by Sikh men is called a Dastar. It is woven around the head in a way that it forms a point in the front and completely covers the hair. The hair is never cut as a sign of respect towards God's creation, similarly the beard is kept long and well maintained for the same purposes. Most Sikh men where them when they have been baptized and many Sikh women are choosing to as well.

Among Muslim religious elders it is common for them to wear a cloth wrapped around a hat known as a kalansuwa. The styles vary from one area and religion to the next, but each style holds the same purpose. The style of the kalansuwa and the colors of the cloth used to wrap it are different depending on the religion that is followed by the wearer. Not all Muslims are required to wear them and many do not.

In Iran, the leaders wear a turban as a sign of stature and wealth. This is either black or white in color and wrapped around the head in a way which forms a flat surface on the top. These are not so much a religious thing as the are cultural, and not everyone can wear one. They are used to distinguish leaders from the rest the population.

Desert nomads live their life wandering a harsh terrain of vast fields of sand and sun. They wear their turbans for many different purposes. They can be used to fend off some of the harsh elements that surround them such as the scorching sun and the fast and sandy winds. They have many different uses and come n many different styles to suit the needs of the people.

One of the main reasons for these garments is to cover the hair which is never cut as a sign of respect towards God and his creation. For this same reason many men who wear them also have long beards which they take great care of and never cut. These are both signs of religious devotion and a sign of respect towards God. When they are worn for this purpose no hair can be seen beneath the cloth.

Women who wear one are generally from the Sikh faith and have been baptized. They are very devout to their faith, and the purposes for them are the same as they are for men. The style however is usually slightly different than it is for men, however it still has a slight peak at the front and is used to completely cover the hair which remains uncut.

In some cultures Middle Eastern turbans were originally worn mostly by men of wealth and power, this however is no longer the case. They are now worn by men who wish to express their religious devotion in most cultures. However in some areas they are still only worn by the wealthy and powerful.




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