When looking at the Native American wearing a headdress it illustrates it being a symbol of both honour and pride.
I am drawn back to my own culture which is Indian and my own religion which is Sikh.
Like the Native headdress, my own culture wears a headdress. The Turban.
The Headdress is identified as belonging to an ‘other’ a whole different culture to my own.
Due to the craftsmanship and materials used it addresses a point that this culture has worked hard to gather these materials and make the headdress.
This to me symbolises the divide between our day-to-day life and the skills required for the Natives to survive.
It seems to be by putting this headdress on one becomes somehow more respectful and holds more status within God’s eye’s and the community which they live within.
It makes a statement of belonging to a community and feeling proud of symbolising their identity. As if purposely making a stand against those who feel threatened by them and see them as an ’other’.
I can relate to this in the same way although I do not wear a turban as it is not permitted for me to do so, I do wear a ‘Karah’ a symbol of my beliefs, culture and belonging to the Sikh community. I wear this with pride and knowledge that others seeing this will know that I am Sikh. I feel the need to emphasis my belonging to that community and make those around me who believe I wish to be like the white man I am only too proud to belong to my community. I also wish for them to feel ‘other’ to me-To make it clear I have an identity which is different form their own.
I feel the need to gain a sense of the headdress’s time and history. I wish to also be their with my own people making a stand for our beliefs and culture, against those whom discriminate us.
The headdress seems free of everyday ordinary life and carries with it an ‘aura’ of something more, an identity.
For me this aura is similar to the one the Turban carries of greatness, community, culture, beliefs, belonging and ultimately the feeling of being closer to God.
The Indian people wear their turban as a sign of belonging to their religion or culture. However for the Sikh the turban is primarily worn to symbolise ones belonging to the Sikh faith. One that is worn with pride and in wearing must be respected. It seems that the one who wears it will respect the actions it carries and go by the foundations set in their culture.
“It distinguishes Sikh men and it represents honour and dignity”. Oxford Sikhs (2008)
To not be a sinner and to do everything in their power to be a good Sikh. In the eyes of the community he is seen as a ‘Pure’ Sikh a practicing religious person who does everything in his power to be God’s child.
“I have made this body and mind a sacrifice, a sacrificial offering to the lord. Dedicating my body and mind, I have crossed over the terrifying world-ocean, and shaken off the fear of death.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Chant, pg. 576)
Sikh’s however wear turbans for religious purposes to cover their uncut hair. Which is commonly known as a ‘Pug’. Sikhs call it a ‘dastar‘-a more respectful Punjabi word for a Sikh turban.
The symbolisms of wearing a turban are many from it being regarded as a symbol of sovereignty, dedication, self-respect, courage and piety but the reason all practicing Sikhs wear the turban is just one - out of love and obedience of the wishes of the founders of their faith.
The headdress seems to be a symbolic way to respect many beliefs and religions across the globe-the Native American, Sikhs, Hindu's and Muslims.
The turban's importance can be found in just about every culture and religion, starting with the ancient Babylonians to western religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as eastern traditions.
When entering and praying at a temple it is important for all Sikhs to cover their heads as a sign of respect for God. Other members of religions are also required to do the same. Hindu's are also required to cover their heads as well as Muslims and Jewish believers. Muslim woman if very religious also wear their hijab whenever leaving the home and in front of all males. This is to ensure they are not tempting a man in any way or trying to appear attractive. A woman is covered so men cannot judge her by her appearance but are forced to evaluate her by her personality, character, and morals. It is also to prevent indecent acts and thoughts by a man towards that woman.
The Old Testament proclaims, "Once they enter the gates of the court", implying God's court, "they are to wear linen vestments. They shall wear linen turban."
Elsewhere in the Old Testament, the significance of the turban is further highlighted:
He put the turban upon his head and set the gold rosette as symbol of holy dedication on the front of the turban as the Lord had commanded him. Moses then took the anointing oil, anointed the Tabernacle, and all that was within it and consecrated it. (Leviticus 8,9)
Set the turban on his head and the symbol of holy dedication on the turban. Take the anointing oil, pour it on his head and anoint him. (Exodus 29-6)
It begs the question is this why all religions wear it, so God can only judge you by your true being and not by how you appear to be. Or in the Sikh religion to make everyone somehow equal and nobody as more attractive as another. It seems to me by covering your hair you are purposely not caring about your looks and only thinking about God when being present at God's House. This however is speculation. It is however clear covering the head and headdresses have a clear importance in many religions. Christianity also makes reference to the significance of the Turban in the Old Testament.
The turban has been an integral part of the Sikh Tradition since the time of Guru Nanak Dev. Historical accounts relay to us that all Sikh Gurus wore turbans and their followers --Sikhs-- have been wearing them since the formation of the faith.
By wearing a turban one at a closeness to God and making themselves a symbol of the Sikh faith and their community.
It distinguishes a Sikh as an instrument of the Guru and decrees accountability for certain spiritual and temporal duties. It is a mark of the Guru and declares that the Sikh wearing a turban is a servant of the Divine Presence.
Any religious person wearing a turban for religious purposes or simply to portray their culture or status to others is becoming a representative of their community. By being a representative one's actions are seen as a reflection on their faith or culture-whatever it may be. By wearing a Turban in religious terms means your closeness to God will enable him to judge you even further as you are clearing marking and symbolising your belonging to that faith.
Just by being exposed to this regal quality, their attitudes and psyche get shaped in a certain way. At the same time, there is a great deal of responsibility accompanied by the turban. A person's actions are no longer just tied to him or her. Since Sikhs who wear the turban represent the Guru, their actions too reflect on the Guru and the Sikh Nation. In this sense, the turban serves to increase a Sikh's commitment to Sikhism and lends to him or her becoming a more disciplined and virtuous person.
Turbans come in many shapes, sizes and colours-depending on region, cultures and religion. This is similar to the headdress worn by the Native Americans. They too have many different headdresses depending on geographical location, tribes and cultures and are made from materials which are within their radius. The Native American is able to identify, different tribe members and beliefs the person follows by looking at the headdress worn by the person. In my culture we are able to acknowledge the differences between religion, culture and social status through the ‘Pug’ which he or she wears.
Asian community’s also wear half a turban called ‘turbs’.
Majority of Asians including Sikhs use a long strip of cloth (any colour) and wind this round their heads. The cloth can be up to 5 meters long.
Some turbans can be brought already in shape and pre-set or sewn to wear.
The turban can vary in size also depending on region, culture and religion.
The turban is primarily known and worn by the Sikh religion and commonly if a religious Sikh man who has
joined the Khalsa the turban will be orange to identify him to the Sikh faith.
(Amrit) -Joining the Khalsa permits you to not cut your hair and wear the turban. This is so others are aware of your status and identity. Most Sikhs do this stage of their life when they are older. This can be seen in the same way the Natives gain the right to wear a headdress once they have reached a certain age.
“The word Khalsa means ‘pure’, Khalsa’s which have undergone the sacred Amrit ceremony initiated by the 10th Sikh.” Brar, Singh. S (1998)
Woman do not usually wear turbans when joining the Khalsa, however can do so.
Jats; the highest cast and Rajputs; another high cast wear a distinctive turban, so they can be recognised.
Rajputs- coloured turbans and Jats-Mainly White.
The Style of the turban can change within every village, just like the headdress for the Native. The turbans size is also an indication of your social status -Jats wear much larger turbans to lower casts e.g. Ni-Haircutters.
Dhakan (Carpenters) don’t cover their ears and their turbans sit much lower on their head.
Nihang Singhs wear very elaborate turbans to show their status of being a war soldier in history and are very well respected by the Sikh community.
They are known as ‘armed Sikhs’.
Young boy Sikhs wear very small imitations of turbans. The child ties their hair on top of their head and places a cloth on top with a hair band. This is more commonly known as the bobble top or top knot. This is comparable to the Native Americans:
“Most of these headdresses were never worn by children. Native American boys usually began wearing porcupine roaches as teenagers, when they were ready to become warriors and earned good honours. The most common are beaded headbands like the one this Ho-Chunk child is wearing”. Redish, L (1998-2008)
Native boys beginning to claim their place as a warrior shares a similarity to the Sikh religion. All male Sikhs are given a middle name called ‘Singh’ This means ‘Warrior’. The symbol which shows the boy becoming a warrior can be seen through his given birth title and his
turban.
Other Indian men whom are not Sikh, often wear turbans to signify class, caste, profession i.e. Hindu’s . It is however not religiously permitted for them to do so.
A person can identify whether a a person is Sikh or Hindu, as Sikh’s will always keep a beard with a turban. Most Hindu’s whom wear the turban do not tend to grow their hair nor do they keep beards.
Other Indian men may also choose to wear a turban to show their high status i.e. a prince This can be made from expensive material and implanted with jewels, however is not common.
Muslim religious elders also wear a type of turban, however it is simply a material wrapped round a cap. This cap is called ‘Kalansawa’. The shape can either be spherical or conical again they range according to region. The colour white is thought to be religious as is green in the Muslim religion as it is known as the colour of paradise, however the turban can be worn in any colour. Not many Muslims wear turbans most wear caps to pray.
There are many different styles of turbans previously discussed through the Sikh religion depending on casts, however there are also many other Asians whom wear Turbans other than the ones already mentioned.
These are:
Afghan men
Iranian
The Kaffiyeh
Dessert People
The differences in Native American Headdresses.
Not all Indigenous Americans are alike, nor do they speak the same language or follow the same cultures. Each individual tribe has it’s own language and culture. This has been determined by their geographical location.
Their environments are very different from one another and therefore live in different habitats, eat different foods and have different clothes-due to their different materials.
Each tribe can tell another tribe by their differing clothes etc.
A few of the Native Headdresses are explained below.
Eagle Feathers- Chiefs of elders. Typically worn by Plain tribes and Northern Woodland tribes.
Another form these tribes called roach-made from deer’s tail and porcupines hair that grows up between their quills. These are worn on top and in the center number of feathers show the history of the person who wears it.
Plains and Woodland wear their headdresses on top of head, slightly towards back of their head. Shorter red coloured hair taken from deer’s tail.
Another type of roasch is circular roasch, worn right on the crown of the back of the head or slightly lower at the back of head. These are worn by Southern Woodland tries (Tsalagi people).
Number of Eagle feathers worn with this headdresses also tells the history of the person. This again is similar to the different sizes of turbans worn by different casts within the Sikh and Hindu community’s to show their social status within society.
Typical North and Southern Woodland/ Southern plains -wear turban’s depending on their tribe-either woven in traditional design or made of cloth. These our contemporary headdresses. Our version of contemporary headdresses are
Mandan and Cheyenne Dog Soldiers who come from the Plains tribes, however some Northern and Southern tribes also wear this type of headdresses but with small feathers-usually from a bird of prey.
A traditional headdresses may consist of single or multiple feathers tied into hair. The way in which the feathers worn tells the warriors history of the how many lives he took and enemies he came in contact with.
My Native American Headdress.
The Headdress which I feel I can relate to most is the Cherokee Turban . The Cherokee Turban was first introduced by King George’s ministers.
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Along with them came garments which were worn for special occasions. These were worn among the Eastern-Tribes.
“At first Cherokee’s made additional turbans from expensive imported cloths, but with the introduction of the spinning wheel by George Washington, the Cherokee’s began making their own cloth.” Cherokee Turbans (Unknown)
The spinning wheel can also be seen on the Indian flag as a symbol of India‘s history.
It is in memory of Ghandi who told the Indian people to not buy materials from other countries but instead to make their own cotton for use, using the spinning wheel.
This was due to not wanting the British to trade to India, so they could not make money through India. These materials could be used to make turbans and many other Indian garments.
Prejudice against the Turban.
Due to its distinguishable nature, the turban has often been a target during times of persecution. There have been times in the relatively short history of the Sikh nation that if one wore a turban, it was reason enough for his or head to be cut off by the tyrannical regimes of the time. The collective response of the Sikh Nation was "You may take off my head but not my turban." When many discarded their turbans, those that proudly adorned them in those times, even though it meant certain death, fully appreciated its significance. After all, it is in times of adversity that faith is tested and one must prove true to core values.
The next time you see a Sikh, greet him or her and know that the turban you see is the same turban and stood up against oppression against those identified as lower castes in India, tyranny in WWI, the Nazi empire in WWII.
References.
1. S, Singh, Dhami (2008) Restoring the Pride [online] Dashmesh Pictures Available from: Date [accessed: 17/03/2009]
2. The Seattle Times: Northwest Life (2007)Understanding Turbans [online] Publisher
Available from: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/lifestyles/links/turbans_27.html [Date Accessed: 17/03/2009]
3. Oxford Sikhs (No Date) Sikhs in Oxford [online] available from: http://www.oxfordsikhs.com/MeraPunjab/PunjabiHeritage/default-aspx [Date Accessed: 17/03/2009]
4. The Khalsa (1998) The Sikhism Home Page [online] Sandeep Singh Brar.
Available from: http://www.sikhs.org.khalsa.htm [Date Accessed: 17/03/2009]
5. Native American Headdresses (No Date)Native American Headdresses [online] Available form: http://www.native-languages.org/headdresses.htm Date Accessed: 17/03/2009
6. Cherokee Turbans (No Date) Cherokee Turbans by Liz [online]
Available from http://www.cherokeeturbans.com/ [Date Accessed: 17/03/2009]
7. Access Genealogy (2004-2009) Native American Indian Genealogy
[online] Access Genealogy. Available from: http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native[Date Accessed: 17/03/2009]
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