Dastar: The protective hand of the Divine and the art of tying a turban
The Dastar, the turban, adorning uncut hair, expresses naturalness, humility, devotion, and a virtuous life in harmony with the Divine Will (Hukam). Sikhs wrap the turban daily and wear it with dignity. The picture depicts a Sikh serving in the US army. In the USA, Canada, the UK, and India, Sikhs, along with their turban, are an integral part of the police and armed forces. Photo: Unsplash
Being equanimous as the sky - Rising above ephemerality
Tying a beautiful turban is a true art. The turban, called Dastar (also Pag, Pagri), symbolizes the protective hand of the Divine. Sikhs wear it with love, serving as a reminder that a higher wisdom guides us, and that we are just small lights in the universe. The turban inspires naturalness, humility, devotion, courage, and a virtuous life in harmony with the Divine Will (Hukam). It also helps navigate daily life with dignity, resisting the influence of fleeting fashion trends. Moreover, the turban serves a practical purpose by providing protection against cold, heat, and head injuries.
Among Sikhs, there are various styles and sophisticated techniques for tying a turban. Sikhs adjust their turban based on age and occasion. Children wear a Rumal, a piece of cloth which covers the top knot. When they get older, they usually begin wearing a Patka which covers the whole head. At home, some Sikhs wear a small turban. It is usually the smaller turban worn under the main one. In sports and certain professions, a particularly sturdy turban is used, showcasing the undogmatic nature of Sikhi. Like a bamboo, Sikhs are well-grounded yet flexible, not easily uprooted by storms.
Depending on the style, it can take between two and 20 minutes to tie a turban. With practice, the daily act of tying, a distinctive feature of the turban, becomes shorter. First, the uncut hair, expressing naturalness and respect for creation, is tied into a top knot at the center of the head, protecting the sensitive fontanelle area. Tying the hair serves as a reminder not to be seduced and distracted by the countless scattered thoughts constantly arising within us. Thus, the act of tying helps focus on our pure and virtuous spiritual self and binds us to the Divine Will. Then, the traditional wooden comb, the Khanga, is placed between the top knot and the hair line.
Divine virtues and beauty
Numerous metaphorical references to the turban can be found in the original wisdom of Sikhi (Gurbani), reminding us of its deeper significance. Interestingly, these references are also present in the insights of the Wise Ones who lived before the ten successive Enlightened Ones, such as Bhagat Nam Dev and Bhagat Kabir. In Gurbani, the turban symbolizes divine virtues and beauty. A beautifully tied turban is a loving daily reminder to be guided by the Divine and everything that truly connects us to it. The turban is described as a gift bestowed upon us after winning the battle against the five inner thieves - desire, anger or hatred, greed, attachment, and egoism. The turban is depicted metaphorically as crooked when deviating from the path of virtues, wisdom, and enlightenment.
ਹਉ ਗੋਸਾਈ ਦਾ ਪਹਿਲਵਾਨੜਾ ॥ ਮੈ ਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਉਚ ਦੁਮਾਲੜਾ ॥ GGS, 74, M.5
ਖੂਬੁ ਤੇਰੀ ਪਗਰੀ ਮੀਠੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਬੋਲ ॥ GGS, 727, Bhagat Nam Dev
ਨਾਪਾਕ ਪਾਕੁ ਕਰਿ ਹਦੂਰਿ ਹਦੀਸਾ ਸਾਬਤ ਸੂਰਤਿ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਿਰਾ ॥੧੨॥ GGS, 1084, M.5
ਟੇਢੀ ਪਾਗ ਟੇਢੇ ਚਲੇ ਲਾਗੇ ਬੀਰੇ ਖਾਨ ॥ GGS 1124, Bhagat Kabir
Heavenly connection - Heavenly colors
Traditionally, colors like blue, sunflower yellow, orange, and white are worn, representing the divine and heaven (Akas). They inspire us to be equanimous as the sky, and raise above transient matters, human-made boundaries, and constraints.
ਸੁਣਿ ਗਲਾ ਆਕਾਸ ਕੀ ਕੀਟਾ ਆਈ ਰੀਸ ॥ GGS, 7, M.1
ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕੈ ਮਨਿ ਹੋਇ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਜੈਸੇ ਧਰ ਊਪਰਿ ਆਕਾਸੁ ॥ GGS, 272, M.5
ਉਤਰਿ ਅਵਘਟਿ ਸਰਵਰਿ ਨ੍ਹਾਵੈ ॥ ਬਕੈ ਨ ਬੋਲੈ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ॥ ਜਲੁ ਆਕਾਸੀ ਸੁੰਨਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥ ਰਸੁ ਸਤੁ ਝੋਲਿ ਮਹਾ ਰਸੁ ਪਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ GGS, 411, M.1
Colors such as yellow, green, blue, red, and white are positively described in the insights of the Enlightened Ones.
ਰੰਗੀ ਰੰਗੀ ਭਾਤੀ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਿਨਸੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਉਪਾਈ ॥ GGS, 6, M.1
ਰਤਾ ਪੈਨਣੁ ਮਨੁ ਰਤਾ ਸੁਪੇਦੀ ਸਤੁ ਦਾਨੁ ॥ ਨੀਲੀ ਸਿਆਹੀ ਕਦਾ ਕਰਣੀ ਪਹਿਰਣੁ ਪੈਰ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥ GGS, 16, M.1
ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵਤ ਮਨੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਹੋਵੈ ॥ GGS, 104, M.5
ਤੁਮ ਮਖਤੂਲ ਸੁਪੇਦ ਸਪੀਅਲ ਹਮ ਬਪੁਰੇ ਜਸ ਕੀਰਾ ॥ GGS, 486, Bhagat Ravi Das
ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਖੋਜਤ ਹਮ ਫਿਰੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਲਾਲ ਜੀਉ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਅੜਾ ਘਰਿ ਆਏ ਰਾਮ ॥ GGS, 542, M.5
ਆਪੇ ਸਾਵਲ ਸੁੰਦਰਾ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਆਪੇ ਵੰਸੁ ਵਜਾਹਾ ॥ GGS, 606, M.4
The only negatively connoted color is black, symbolizing ignorance and evil (Kale Lekh).
ਫਰੀਦਾ ਜੇ ਤੂ ਅਕਲਿ ਲਤੀਫੁ ਕਾਲੇ ਲਿਖੁ ਨ ਲੇਖ ॥ ਆਪਨੜੇ ਗਿਰੀਵਾਨ ਮਹਿ ਸਿਰੁ ਨੀਵਾਂ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਖੁ ॥੬॥ GGS, 1378, Bhagat Sheikh Farid
ਭਗਤੀ ਭਾਇ ਵਿਹੂਣਿਆ ਮੁਹੁ ਕਾਲਾ ਪਤਿ ਖੋਇ ॥ GGS, 57, M.1
ਮਨਹੁ ਕੁਸੁਧਾ ਕਾਲੀਆ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਚਿਟਵੀਆਹ ॥ GGS, 85, M.1
Sikhs aware of color symbolism tend to avoid a black head covering.
Being congruent
Timeless wisdom repeatedly reminds us not to be swayed by superficialities such as a supposedly holy and pious appearance. It is the simplest thing in the world to present oneself in religious attire and speak in a religious manner. True spirituality is not manifested in appearance, on a stage, in social media posts, or in the number of followers, but solely in virtues and lived wisdom in everyday life.
ਸੁਣਿਆ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਕੀਤਾ ਭਾਉ ॥ ਅੰਤਰਗਤਿ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਮਲਿ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਗੁਣ ਤੇਰੇ ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਵਿਣੁ ਗੁਣ ਕੀਤੇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ GGS, 4, M.1
ਦਿਲਹੁ ਮੁਹਬਤਿ ਜਿੰਨੑ ਸੇਈ ਸਚਿਆ ॥ ਜਿਨੑ ਮਨਿ ਹੋਰੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਰੁ ਸਿ ਕਾਂਢੇ ਕਚਿਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਤੇ ਇਸਕ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਰੰਗਿ ਦੀਦਾਰ ਕੇ ॥ ਵਿਸਰਿਆ ਜਿਨੑ ਨਾਮੁ ਤੇ ਭੁਇ ਭਾਰੁ ਥੀਏ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ GGS, 488, Bhagat Sheikh Farid
ਚਿਟੇ ਜਿਨ ਕੇ ਕਪੜੇ ਮੈਲੇ ਚਿਤ ਕਠੋਰ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਤਿਨ ਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਊਪਜੈ ਦੂਜੈ ਵਿਆਪੇ ਚੋਰ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਮੂਲੁ ਨ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਪਸੂਆ ਸੇ ਢੋਰ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥ GGS, 751, M.1
The art of the Dastar: How to tie a turban
Traditionally, children learn to tie a turban by observing their parents. Nowadays, instructional videos assist Sikhs worldwide in mastering this art. The following videos showcase different styles for men and women, including the Dumala, the most stable form of turban. It was predominantly used in defensive wars and is part of the appearance of the Khalsa, the order established by Gur Gobind Singh.
Here are selected videos that can help you learn how to tie a beautiful Patka and Dastar.
Patiala Shahi Pagg | With Whole Detail | 5 Larr - YouTube
HOW TO TIE DUMALA IN 5 MIN - YouTube
How To Tie Dumala ( ਦੁਮਾਲਾ ) Tutorial - PunjabiBeardos - YouTube
EASIEST WAY TO TIE DASTAR | HOW TO TIE DASTAR/TURBAN IN 5 MINUTES | JAPPAN KAUR - YouTube (Turban for women)
How to do a Jurra and tie a Patka / Keski on a child - YouTube (Top knot and Patka for Kids)
