Significance Of The Orange Turban

By Mara Boone


A turban is a kind of head-wear based on cloth winding. There are many varieties of turban, and it is the custom to be worn by men, although women around the world wear turbans as well. Communities with traditions of turban-wearing can be found in Asia, and parts of Africa and the Middle East. There are many different colors, with the orange turban being the most popular.

There are a multitude of reasons people wear turbans. Some wear them for religious or cultural reasons, while others just want to be fashionable. It is very common for people of the Sikh faith to wear this type of head-wear. Various colors have different meanings; however, the reason a Sikh chooses to wear a specific turban color is usually personal choice.

The Sikh faith has rules which all members must follow. One of these rules is to never cut their hair. This is meant to honor their creator. Because long hair can get tangled and dirty, Sikhs wear turbans to maintain the integrity of their hair. Sikh men must wear the turban, but women are allowed to wear a headscarf as an alternative. The religion does not require that a certain color of head covering is worn, and Sikhs may wear any color of their choosing.

Turbans are generally only removed at bath and bedtime. When removed, it is done so carefully so that it does not touch the floor. It is then cleaned and folded neatly to prepare it for the next use. The daily routine of a Sikh includes the keeping the hair neat and clean (either rinsing the hair with water or shampooing it). Many Sikhs wash their hair before morning meditation.

Men and women of the Sikh faith may match their head-wear with whatever outfit they choose to wear for that day. A woman's headscarf can be either a solid color or multicolored. Many headscarves have decorative embroidery.

Sikhs generally do prefer to wear the same color of turban on a daily basis, usually because it's easier. Blue and black are two colors that are very common as they match easily with most clothing. However, there isn't a rule that says that a solid color must be worn.

More traditional Sikhs can choose from colors that have special meaning in their culture. These colors are often worn by people of an older generation, and those who have had a more traditional upbringing. The significance of these colors varies.

The color orange is representative of wisdom and courage, and royal blue is usually worn by those who are learned in the Sikh religion. Orange and blue are traditional colors of the Sikh religion. Some Sikhs generally wear only these two colors for their turbans and clothes. Red is commonly worn at weddings and other celebratory events. Two other commonly worn colors are white, which represents purity, and black, representing humility.

There are many color options available. That being said, the orange turban is a very popular choices for Sikhs because it is representative of two important qualities in the Sikh religion - knowledge and courage. Because orange is such an important color, it is common for Sikhs everywhere to have this color in their wardrobe.




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