大象传媒

The turban is the one thing that identifies a Sikh more than any other symbol of their faith. An edict handed down in 1699 by the 10th Sikh Guru - Gobind Singh 鈥� require Sikhs not to cut their hair. The turban, part of the Bana or military uniform at that time, was used to keep and protect a Sikh's hair. However in line with its military tradition, it is something that has always been a masculine symbol and almost exclusively worn by men and not women. That is until now it seems.

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 always like this鈥� says Devinder, a teaching assistant from Ilford just outside London, holding up a photo album of her younger years. 鈥淚 used to have cut black curls, wear make-up, go out and do what people do on nights out鈥�but it never sat comfortably with me even then.鈥�

Seven years ago Devinder decided to become fully baptised into the Sikh faith, stopped cutting any of her hair and began wearing a tall white wrapped turban. She is one of a growing number of Sikh women who are wearing Turbans. Nikki Bedi meets them to explore why they are so intent to identify themselves as Sikh women.

(Photo: Devinder and her daughter Har-rai. Credit: Rajeev Gupta)