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Vaisakhi festival a time for family, sharing culture
By: Jas Cheema (April 17, 2005)
This week Sikhs throughout the world celebrated Vaisakhi and the first International Sikh Turban Day.
Vaisakhi commemorates the day Sikhs were given a clear identity and a code of conduct to live by.
The event was led by the last living Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who baptized the first Sikhs in 1699.
He referred to them as the Khalsa or The Pure Ones.
Around the world at Vaisakhi time, Sikhs reflect on the values taught to them by their Gurus and celebrate the creation of the Khalsa.
Vaisakhi is also a seasonal festival of Punjab, a festival of joy and happiness. It coincides with the harvest season and symbolizes wealth and prosperity to the majority of farmers in the Punjab.
With crops being reaped, the rural countryside of Punjab becomes rich and farmers are ready to spend their hard-earned cash.
Local events take place around the villages of Punjab and it's a time for people to have fun at local festivals. It is a jovial time to be with family and friends.
This year around the globe, turban-tying competitions and clinics were held which coincided with these celebrations.
Turbans are worn by many around the world. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Sikhs became targets of hate crimes and people confused them with turban-wearing Arabs and Muslims.
The World Turban Day (April 13) was initiated to educate communities throughout the world about the Sikh religion and the significance of the turban to a Sikh. The turban has been and is an inseparable part of a baptized Sikh's life.
As a part of this life, the Sikh Code of Conduct prohibits Sikhs from cutting or shaving their hair. The hair is to be tied in a knot above the head and covered with a keski (mini turban) followed by the turban itself. Covering one's head is a way of showing respect to God and the Guru.
That is why even if you don't wear a turban, you must cover your head in a Gurdwara. I once had a young lady ask me, "How do you wash your hair if you're not to remove the turban?" Not removing the turban does not mean you never remove the turban to wash your hair, etc.
After washing the hair, one reties the turban again to keep the hair clean throughout the day. Not all who wear a turban though are baptized Sikhs. Some will wear a turban for certain occasions only, such as a religious ceremony.
In addition to the religious significance, the turban has many symbolic meanings: responsibility, dignity, honour, self-respect, courage, and identity just to name a few. When a father passes away, the oldest son takes over the family responsibilities. A turban is tied in front of friends and family to signify that he is now the head of the household.
A blemish on the turban is equivalent to a blot in one's character. Similarly, an insult thrown at the turban is considered an insult to one's personality. A turban is not a hat and is not to be removed.
Even during World War I and II the Sikh soldiers refused to wear helmets. Throughout time Sikhs have won several legal battles to earn the right to wear a turban not only in their place of work but in schools, universities, service clubs and even in national assemblies.
Here in Canada we have members of the RCMP, local police forces, Members of Parliament, teachers, and other professionals who wear turbans during the course of their day.
Turbans come in many colours, although there are no written rules and one can wear whatever colour one chooses, there are some colours that are more prominent for certain occasions.
Most like to match their turbans to the other clothing they're wearing. Seniors tend to choose the lighter colours or white, and some young people also like the lighter colours. Again, it's just a matter of choice. Red, pink and shades thereof are usually worn at weddings by the groom. The royal blue or saffron gold and black are more common colours for baptized Sikhs.
The Sikh turban is very practical, it is made of fine cotton, is easy to wash, and custom-fits the contour of the head and is comfortable. The turban is light (a few ounces) and soft on the head. It is great for both the winter and summer. In cold, it keeps the head and ears cozy and comfortable.
Under the hot sun, it is invaluable in keeping the head and brain cool. An adult man's Sikh turban is typically eight metres long; a Sikh women's is usually smaller. For swimming and sports, a small scarf called "patka" is used.
It's like a handkerchief, at the top of the head, where the long hair is knotted. There are varying styles of turbans; the style can denote regions, education, class and/or caste. Being a Sikh is a lot more than just how you look on the outside. Following the Guru Ji's teaching of love for all mankind, living an honest life and serving your community by helping those in need all go hand in hand with the outer appearance.
Your inner strength and actions speak more for who you are than what you look on the outside. The turban has and continues to gain a lot of respect throughout the world. Governments all over are starting to recognize the significance of a turban for followers of the Sikh faith. Constitutions are being re-written, uniforms altered and policies amended to become more inclusive. The youth of today are proudly displaying their articles of faith and defending their rights to wear their turbans.
This article is not an in-depth study of the turban but hopefully will give you the reader a good summary. Sikh societies need to continue in their efforts of educating not only the mainstream community about turbans, but also spreading the message to the next generation. Having a day in recognition of this is a step in the right direction
Jas Cheema's column, Across Cultures, appears in The Leader twice a month, and addresses a variety of cultural and social issues. Send your comments or questions to jascheema@barkel.com but please don't send attachments. They will not be opened.
© Copyright 2005 Surrey Leader
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