Columnists
The Quest For The Perfect Dastaar:
Janam Da Firangee,
Sikhi Mai Mangee
FATEHPAL SINGH TARNEY
I went to school in New York City long before the invention of political correctness. In those days, teachers often referred to students as either “eagles” - those with high ability. - or “turtles” - those who were slower or lagging behind.
If there was a turban-tying class, I would definitely have been placed in the “turtle” group!
Through the years, despite patient advice and assistance from many Sardars, I have never been completely satisfied with my turban results. I went from single puttie to double-puttie and back again and tried a variety of materials: mulmull, rubia, voile, etc.
Ultimately, thanks to a wonderful instructional video from the U.K., I learned a quick and simple dastaar with excellent results.
My primary-care doctor - a Sardar - noticed my new dastaar style. He immediacy identified it as of East African style - very quick and easy. He said that during his residency, this was the style he used as it was very easy to tie when he was on call.
However, his patni later told him that she would never have married him if he had continued with this style and was using it when he was wooing her!
Meri patni, on the other hand, really likes this style.
Go figure!
Another Sardar friend said to me, "Fateh ji, you look different!"
I said, "Didn't I tell you? I'm moving to Kenya!"
March 29, 2016
Conversation about this article
1: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), March 29, 2016, 11:40 PM.
The correct and best dastaar style is the Punj Larrh or five-fold turban and it us shown in the blockbuster film, SINGH IS KING. The style worn at the Egyptian sites is the perfect style for a Sikh, male or female; however, not many Sikhs are aware of the style.
2: Gurpal singh (United Kingdom), March 30, 2016, 5:07 PM.
For some of us, this is a bit too much. I have no idea what single and double puttie are. If someone would be kind enough to explain, or spell out the advantages and disadvantages of different fabrics, this could be a real lesson for us.
3: Rundeep Singh (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), March 30, 2016, 9:22 PM.
That would be the Videojug tutorial by Daljit Singh, wouldn't it? That's the style I'm wearing right now, with minor adjustments. Tomorrow I move to Brampton, where, among others disciplines, I hope to expand my turban repertoire by prevailing on the local Sardars. The style you're describing is end-to-end folded, as opposed to pooni, which is point-to-point rolled - which increases the length (and, at my present level of expertise, increases the creases!). Still, it can't be as bad as the elderly gentleman in the white dastaar on the London bus, who was told by the English lady with whom he was conversing, "I do hope your head feels better soon!"