Turban
A turban is a type of headwear based on cloth winding. Featuring many variations, it is worn as customary headwear by people of various cultures. Communities with prominent turban-wearing traditions can be found in the Punjabis, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia, North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, and amongst some Turkic peoples in Russia.
A keski is a type of turban mainly worn by female Sikhs, with a long piece of cloth roughly half the length of a traditional "single turban", but not cut and sewn to make a double-width "Double Turban".
Wearing turbans is common among Sikh men, and infrequently women. They are also worn by Hindu monks. The headgear also serves as a religious observance, including among Shia Muslims, who regard turban-wearing as Sunnah mu'akkadah. The turban is also the traditional headdress of Sufi scholars. Muslim men might wear the turban during prayer. Additionally, turbans have often been worn by nobility, regardless of religious background.
Turbans come in a variety of styles, and the method of wrapping can vary. Some turbans are simple and functional, while others are elaborate and serve ceremonial or formal purposes. The way a turban is tied can indicate the wearer's social or marital status, religious affiliation, or regional identity. Aside from cultural and religious significance, turbans are also practical headwear. They provide protection from the sun, dust, and wind. In some regions with hot climates, turbans can help keep the head cool.
History
The earliest depiction of a turban can be found on a Mesopotamian sculpture dating back to 2350 BCE. A style of turban called a phakeolis continued to be worn in that region by soldiers of the Byzantine army in the period 400–600, as well as by Byzantine civilians as depicted in Greek frescoes from the 10th century in the province of Cappadocia in modern Turkey, where it was still worn by their Greek-speaking descendants in the early 20th century. The Islamic prophet, Muhammad, who lived 570–632, wore an Imama turban. The style of turban he introduced was a cap with a cloth tied around it; this headwear is known as Imama and was emulated by Muslim kings and scholars throughout history. Shia clerics today wear white turbans unless they are descendants of Muhammad or sayyid, in which case they wear a black turban. Many Muslim men choose to wear green, because it represents paradise, especially among followers of Sufism. In parts of North Africa, where blue is common, the shade of a turban can signify the tribe of the wearer.National styles
Asia
Afghanistan
Turbans are part of the national dress in Afghanistan. In the Uruzgan Province, male government employees are required to wear the Imama. They are used more widely than elsewhere in the Muslim world, and are worn in a wide range of styles and colours. In the country's south-east, turbans are wrapped loosely and largely, whereas in Kabul the garment tends to be smaller and tighter. In traditional Afghan society, a related piece of extra cloth called a patu serves practical purposes, such as for wrapping oneself against the cold, to sit on, to tie up an animal or to carry water in the cap. Different ethnic groups in Afghanistan wear different lungees with different patterns, way of styling it, fabric, stripes, lengths and colouration. Males of all ethnic backgrounds generally avoid wearing bright-coloured turbans that draw attention to oneself and prefer wearing simple colors that are white, off white, gray, dark blue and black.China
In China and its frontiers, turbans were worn, primarily by ethnic minorities with Turkic or Islamic cultural influence. Turbans were worn by the Han Chinese rebels in the Red Turban rebellion.Indian subcontinent
In India, the turban is referred to as a pagri, meaning the headdress that is worn by men and is manually tied. There are several styles, which are specific to the wearer's region or religion, and they vary in shape, size and colour. For example, the Mysore Peta, the Marathi pheta, and the Puneri Pagadi. The pagri is a symbol of honour and respect everywhere it is worn. It is a common practice to honour important guests by offering them one to wear.Colours are often chosen to suit the occasion or circumstance: for example saffron, associated with valour or sacrifice, is worn during rallies; white, associated with peace, is worn by elders; and pink, associated with spring, is worn during that season or for marriage ceremonies.In World War II, some soldiers in the Indian Army were required to wear a turban. The Free India Legion also wore turbans.
In the Indian state of Rajasthan a turban, known as pagri or safa, is a traditional headwear that is an integral part of the state's cultural identity. It is typically made from cotton, silk, or a blend of fabrics and can vary in length. The safa is usually around long, while the pagri can be about. Some of the most popular turbans in Rajasthan include Jodhpuri safa.
In Pakistan, the turban is in widespread use, especially among the rural population. It is worn in different styles and colours across the country, varying by region. For example, in the north of the country, black and white turbans are preferred. The turban most commonly found in Pakistan is white and crestless, and worn commonly in the Pashtun belt, while in rural Punjab and Sindh, it is mostly worn by elders or feudal lords. The turban is called either a pagri or pag by Punjabis, while the Pashtuns and Sindhi's call it patkay/patko.
The Baloch people are known for wearing large turbans, which are considered a symbol of honour and identity in Baloch society. These turbans are usually 5 to 10 metres in length and are wrapped around a cap to provide structure. They are most commonly white, though black and dark blue are also used. The ends of the turban are often left hanging at the sides or arranged as a loop resting across the chest. Styles vary by region: lighter fabrics are preferred in coastal Makran, while thicker cloth is used in central and northern Balochistan. Turbans are worn at weddings, religious gatherings, and tribal councils, and the act of placing a turban on someone’s head is a traditional gesture of respect and recognition.
In recent years, the Baloch turban has also taken on symbolic and political significance. In 2024, a traditional Sardari paag was ceremonially placed on activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch, marking one of the first times the honour was publicly conferred upon a woman in Baloch society.
In Bangladesh, the turban is known as pagri, or fagri in Chittagong and Sylhet. The most common colour worn is white, and generally it is the Sufis that wear green turbans. It is also worn by elders in rural areas as a symbol of honour and respect.
The turban in Nepal is commonly worn in rural areas by males. The rural turban is called either a Pagdi or Pheta. It is common among farmers. All types of coloured clothes were used for Pheta. Historically, Gorkhali nobleman used to wear white turban called Shirpau awarded by the King of Nepal. For example; Sardar Ram Krishna Kunwar was awarded with 22 pairs of headgear called Shirpau by the Gorkhali monarch Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah. It was common among aristocrats in other contemporary kingdoms. Rulers and vassal lords also adapted a crest to the white turban.
Europe
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, turbans have been worn by men and women since the sixth century without ever becoming very common. Poet Alexander Pope is sometimes depicted wearing a turban, as were other notable men seen in contemporary paintings and illustrations. The common use of turbans on less formal occasions, among gentlemen at the time, reflects that their heads were closely cropped, or shaved, to allow the wearing of the elaborate wigs that were the fashion in Europe in the century from about 1650 to 1750, and when wigs were off, some kind of head cover was useful. Hence, the turban.Now that hats are infrequently worn, turbans too are relatively uncommon. They are worn primarily by women of West Indian descent, Karinas. Some women wear them to make a statement of individuality, such as the British social entrepreneur Camila Batmanghelidjh, who usually wore a colourful matching turban and robe.