Turban
From Freepedia
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The turban (Arabic عمامة; ‘imamah, Turkish tülbent, Persian دلبنت; dulband) is a headdress, of Asian origin, consisting of a long scarf wound round the head or an inner hat. The turban comes in many shapes and sizes and color of turbans vary, with the cloth's length being up to 45 meters.
Early Persians wore a conical cap sometimes encircled by bands of cloth, which may be considered one of the origins of the modern turban. The turban did not become common among the Turks, but was common among the Ottoman sultans.
In the work Asarim the Sudarium (John 20:7) is described as a Turban. The fact that it was set aside in the tomb when found points out that Jesus had removed it from his head himself and that the tomb had not in fact been robbed at any point in time. It can in fact be seen in the Cathedral of Oviedo, Spain.
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Sikhism
The turban is closely associated with Sikhism, the only religion in which wearing a turban is mandatory (for men). The vast majority of people who wear turbans in Western countries are Sikhs. The Sikh pagdi (ਪਗੜੀ) is also called dastar (ਦਸਤਾਰ), which is a more respectful word in Punjabi for the turban.
Indian state of Rajasthan
The Rajput people from the Indian state of Rajasthan also wear distinct turbans. In Hindi, an Indian language, a turban is called a pagdi (पगड़ी). There are many variations of the turbans in Rajasthan. In fact, it is said that, in Rajasthan the style of the turban changes with every 15 km you travel. In some areas, especially in Rajasthan the turban's size may indicate the position of the person in society. "Royalty" in different parts of India have distinctly different styles of turbans, as do the "Peasants" who often just wear a towel wound round the head.
Arab Culture
In Arab culture, the turban (or imamah) has an important place. Ancient Arabs wore them and took pride in them; to be deprived of one's turban was humiliating, and knocking a man's turban off was considered an insult. In daily life, the turban was very useful for fending off the desert sand and protecting the face from high temperatures and strong sunlight. In modern Persian Gulf countries, the turban has been replaced by the white or red-and-white checkered scarf (called keffiyeh, ghutrah or shumagh), though the turban tradition is still strong in Oman (see Sultan Qaboos of Oman wearing turban). In Sudan, a large white turban is worn and can indicate social status. Islamic clergymen can be seen wearing turbans, in particular Shia Muslim scholars who have become famous for them (e.g. Ayotallah Khomeini, Ayotallah Khamenei, Hizbullah head Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, and newcomers to the world stage, like Iraq's Ayutallah Ali al-Sistani). These are worn by Persian and Arab scholars alike; the black colour indicates a 'syed' (descent from the Prophet Muhammad).
Stigma against turbans
In the early 21st Century, the wearing of turbans was strongly stigmatized in the United States of America as a consequence of the notorious terrorist actions of Osama bin Laden. There were many hate crimes against Sikhs, who make up the overwhelming majority of turban wearers in Western countries, even though they have no connection with Muslims.
