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Summary of Question:	Turbans In America
Category:	Turban
Date Posted:	Thursday, 3/27/2003 5:28 PM MDT

Upon visiting your site one evening, I read the Sikh Youth Forum Discussion about hair and turbans and its importance. I too am a Sikh youth. I have had long hair from when I was born and it has never been cut. I can't emphasize how important hair is, and DKK did do a very good job explaining it...it is our identity and our strength. I really hope that the youth who wrote the letter will not cut his hair or consider removing his turban. I don't think he should do anything that he will regret. There is reference to hair and turbans in our SGGS and here is one example :p. 1084 The Guru says,

Maru Raag:

(1084-9, mwrU, mÚ 5)
naapaak paak kar hadoor hadeesaa saabat soorat dastaar siraa. ||12||

Purify what is impure, and let the Lord's Presence be your religious tradition. Let your total awareness be the turban on your head.

Know who you are, if not that..think about our ancestors such as Bhai Taru Singh..who refused to give up his hair in exchange for his life. He preferred death over losing the sacred GIFT and identity that was given to him by the Guru. Instead, he said that if they wanted his hair, that it be removed with his scalp...WITH HIS SCALP. That is the only way they got his hair. Since we were children, my sisters and I educated students at our school and our friends about our faith and its ways. TALK...it helps a lot and allows you to understand who you are and what exactly you feel. I am not at a lack of friends, in fact i am the president of my premed class, and also am known in our school. Know your identity and don't give it up. Wearing a turban and being a Sikh is not uncool, so many girls prefer marrying sardars these days because they are brave and courageous enough to be different and they know who they are. Sikh ways and traditions are not just for when they are convenient.... they are a way of life.

Guru Rakha