It’s a Pagg-matic approach

Gurnaaz Kaur

Nowadays, they are not just ubiquitous on the ramps or in the cine world. Even on a regular day, a turbaned Sikh walks with his head high and his headgear with inimitable style and swag. 

They may not be grabbing eyeballs on social media like UK-based Sikh Reuben Singh, who became an internet sensation for matching his turbans to his Rolls-Royce for seven days as a befitting answer to a hate remark; or Waris Ahluwalia, who broke the international fashion scene with his trademark black turban and bespoke style.

But the Sikh squad knows the garment is a symbol of honour and pride, and they know well how to create a fashion statement out of it.

An orthopaedic by profession, Manpal Narula believes a turban defines one’s personality. “It is every Sikh’s most proud accessory. The way it adds to your formal look, no brooch or tie can do it. It commands awe and respect like nothing else. The style of turban varies from person to person, but it is important to be neatly tied (which incidentally doesn’t take more than three-four minutes), right size (very important) and preferably matching or sometimes contrasting to your attire. I prefer a sober neutral one like a fawn or a grey or the universal blacks and blues. I wear an underturban (patka) with it and I must have around 20 turbans,” he shares.

This most identifiable feature of a Sikh, for Sumeet Singh Suden, a corporate employee who has been wearing it for 14 years, is a pinnacle of his social status. “Turban is my identity. I’ve seen my dad wearing it, his dad wearing it and it is something that makes me different from the crowd. I can’t imagine stepping out without my turban. My favourite style is Patiala Shahi and I like to match it with my shirts. My favourite colours are sea green, mustard and maroon.” 

When asked who wears the turban with aplomb, Sumeet says, “Tarsem Jassar is a handsome sardar with turban tied right and in style.”

With flamboyant fabrics and accessories, young Sikhs use turban as a way to reflect their personality, as well as a symbol of their faith. That’s how Hardeep Singh Ghai, a physical education teacher, incorporates his feelings about the garment. “I know all possible styles—the Shahi turban, Morni Dastar, Ambarsariya Shahi, Turlan-wali pagg, etc. The catch, however, is that not every style suits everyone and one must keep in mind one’s face cut and features while selecting a style. These days the trend is folk style turban called Vattan Vali Pagg and it’s also my favourite style, so I enjoy wearing it when I am not in school,” he smiles. Hardeep also gives tutorials on tying a turban; that’s a passion and pastime. 

“During the summer and winter vacations, with the help of gurdwara management in Sector 22 and 34, I hold a one-week programme to teach dastar bandhi to young boys.” About decorating the turban with peacock plumes or ornaments pinned to the front it, Hardeep explains that it’s only a part of ramp shows or adorned by a groom on his wedding day. 

While most Sikh men wear plain turbans in different colours, the printed turbans are prevalent in some parts of Delhi and Mumbai. “Youngsters rarely wear them because that was a trend followed by our forefathers. It’s during the youth fest or bhangra performance on stage that we use printed cloth and tie it in Turlan-wala style to make it look colourful and catchy,” he says.

Talking of the defining elements, choosing them in myriad shades, this man loves to flaunt his turbans. “I have one in every possible colour, be it orange, yellow, green or even dark pink. I make sure to match it with my shirt. When tied well, it is iconic and that’s my mantra of looking good,” says a proud Ranpreet Singh, MD, Weldon Opticians, Sector 17, Chandigarh.

We agree, aesthetic appearance does add to this glorious garment. For Sukhcharan Singh, a law student: “I like to contrast it. Matching isn’t my trend, so if it’s a bright shirt, it’ll be a light turban and vice versa. But whatever be the trend, my turban completes me.”

These men say turban is their crown. And we can’t agree more.

gurnaaz@tribunemail.com