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Summary of Question:	Turbanflexibilty Contd..
Category:	Hair
Date Posted:	Monday, 7/02/2001 11:11 AM MDT

SSA

This is in regard to an e-mail i sent regarding turban flexibily to which u have given a response i have attached it at the end of my letter.
My problem is that i am a sikh boy and the solution u have given me is for a girl.Iam sure many people were benefited with ur idea.But, please help me out here!!
SSA
ur response:-
In reply to the young Sikh's question about basketball and maintaining respect for kesh, my advice would be to wear the kesh not on the top of the head but comb it back and braid it then secure it in a "JOORA" at the neck ,like punjabi women do, then cover it with a patka tying the straps securely to the head and the joora ,in this way people will not hit your joora on top of your head and also if the patka comes off your hair will be braided and not come open.
I would please BEG you not to wear a baseball cap as this is very disrespectful to our shaheeds/martyrs who gave up their lives (in mughal and British jails) rather than wear prison caps or remove their turbans.
I would also like to add that many young sikhs see turbans as a hinderence to active liFe, however turbans were meant for active combat Dumallas (double turbans) like nihangs wear nevER come off, the farla or first turban is tied with the hair and secured with a chakhri and the other turbans are added and secured with Tora ,steel rope. even the highly trained troops of the british army could not cut through or shoot bullets thru these dumallas.Modern turbans are not as practical as these dumallas. But I am practical I know many people cant practically wear dumallas during sports etc So my advice would be experiment, I find wearing the kesh back and secured tightly with patka does the job for me
Hope this helps, Just please do not wear a cap.

GURFATEH!!


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REPLY
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Sat Sri Akal,

I would suggest to wear your "joora" on the top of the head and tie a tight "patka" then. I do this whenever I play basketball, football, weight lifting, running and any other active sport. It has never been a problem. The best thing for you to do would be to learn a similar triple knot "patka" style from someone in your area.

I also must mention that aside from playing sports or active outdoor activities, it is not proper for a grown Sikh to wear a "patka" outdoors. A grown Sikh must wear a turban whenever outdoors.

Gur Fateh,
HSD