Wearing A Keski

[Guest _Kaur_]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

After 2 years of preparing myself mentally and physically, talking with my parents/family and fighting my mind, I think I am finally ready to take amrit and wear a keski (my own choice) if Guru Ji choses to bless me.

There is no one in my geographic area that wears a keski, and I would be the first one at my Gurdwara, with exception to an elderly bibi whose keski looks more like a ramaal. I was hoping my fellow veer/bhans could help me with some information. I've seen the turban tying videos on sikhnet but some of them are not too specific on material and lengths, etc. I like the more "gol" keski (kind of like Sukhmani Kaur- Sikh Youth of the Month). Could someone please guide me on what types of material work best, what are some of the best places to get dastar fabric in India, is the fabric any different for men vs. women, how long the kapra should be? I don't know if length of hair really makes a difference on getting longer kapra, but my hair is pretty long..probably about 3.5-4ft..and I think I'd like to wear a smaller keski underneath- how long should that cloth be. I know these are a whole bunch of questions, some of them my seem stupid, but I hope you can help. ANY advice would be greatly appreciated.

Once I get back from India, I can practice on the shape, etc. but its the preliminary stuff that I need help with.

Thank you all so much!

[simmal tree]

Dear bhainjee,

Vaaheguroojeekaakhaalsaa

Vaaheguroojeekeefatheh !!!!

Congratulations on your decision to take amrit and wear a keski. May Guru Sahib ji bless you with chardee kalaa and naam daan. Your questions are not stupid. Firstly I'd like to ask - where do you live? If you live in Canada, there are many stores in Surrey and in Toronto which have Sikhi related items. And most major cities in North America have at least one Punjabi or Indian fabric store where you can purchase dastaar / keski material.

I don't think that the fabric is any different for men / women, but the styles are usually different. That doesn't mean you have to tie a different style, for example many men and women tie similar dumallas.

I know that if you are trying to tie a "gol" keski or a dumalla, it is helpful to tie your kes into a keski underneath, and then tie a dastaar on top. Just a note - so I don't confuse you, in my definition the keski is the first dastaar that touches your kes, hence "kes - kee," and the dastaar is the one you tie on the top, which is probably slightly neater from the outside.

So for keski, if you do your kanga and then you wrap your kes into the keski and tie the keski as a joora and then around your head, it will make your joora much more comfortable and stable on your head. Then your dastaar will also look more balanced and will be more secure (less likely to become loose or fall off).

The length of the kapraa will depend on the length of your hair, the size of your head, and how large you want your dastaar to be in general. Maybe you could try to a 3 or 4 yard keski, and a 5 or 6 yard dastaar on top, and see if that is too small, too large, or just right.

Also - please don't feel shy about this, but if you e-mail Kaurs United (www.kaursunited.org) and give them your mailing address, I'm sure they can send you detailed information. They might even be able to send you a dastaar if you live in an area where there are not any Punjabi stores.

But if you're going to India then you'll find dastaar fabric for sure. However i still suggest you e-mail Kaurs United as many of those Sikh women also tie dastaars and could offer guidance.

Wish you all the best bhainjee. stay in chardee kalaa.

please forgive me for any mistakes

Vaaheguroojeekaakhaalsaa

Vaaheguroojeekeefathehhhhhh !!!!!

[Guest _Kaur_]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Thank you SOOO much for your help. I will write to Kaurs United today as you suggested.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!