In Punjab, The Turban Is Disappearing Fast

[lsingh]

In Punjab, the turban is disappearing fast

Priya Yadav [ 30 Oct, 2006 0106hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

PATIALA: Imagine the swirling fields of Punjab — and its urbanscape too

— peopled by Sikhs with crew cuts and long hair, gelled and oiled,

spiked and straightened, but without the ubiquitous turban. Can’t? You will

if you only hear of the number of people heading for the barber’s shop.

In a radical movement of sorts that is sweeping the entire expanse of

Punjab, the young Sikh is not thinking twice before shearing his

tresses. The trend has both shocked and worried community leaders.

With 90% of all Sikh families in Punjab with at least a couple of

members without a turban, the Panth has reasons for anxiety.

"It is a challenge to the traditional Sikh identity. There are lakhs of

people who might imbibe Sikhism in spirit but the most visible symbol

of Sikh faith, the turban, is disappearing fast. The new generation has

not understood the principles of Sikh faith properly and is giving in

to Western influences," says Avtar Singh Makkar, president of Shiromani

Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the highest decision-taking body for

Sikhs.

Elders in families are fighting a losing battle against the zeal of

young Sikh men ready for the shearing. "Hair is not just a symbol, it is

the gift from God and Sikhism calls for its preservation. If the

alarming trend is not checked we will one day have no Sikh with a turban to

show," added an anxious Tehal Singh, an elder in village Muradpur,

Patiala.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/223276.cms

[Pakandi baba]

BABDAL <admin-profanity filter activated> ETC ETC ARE TO BLAME....I SAY THEY SHOULD BE DEALT WITH....

[Proud to be sikh]

Fateh to all,

Very good topic ji. Even we discuss this thing at our home. Sikhi is not only being removed from punjab but in other parts of India too. It is not only the work of an organisation to tell or force sikh people to keep hair and tie turban. For this, mind set has to be changed altogether and this is the main job of today's Sikh Leaders. But alas, results are before us.

But I know someone who is ahead with his WONDERFUL MISSION to bring the youth to right path. He is not only a good preacher of sikhism but also teaches to with with truth and humanity. I know a large number of people who after hearing his programmes, have brought imperative transformations in their life-style. He has tried his best to do away the evils such as dowry, Nasha, hatred etc. which are eating our society.

Seems to be amazing but it is true. He is a Gursikh, Gurbani is his life and he teaches truth and humanity. Through this, a sikh, who is a learner, knows about his Pehchaan, his pride and his identity as a Puran Gursikh. Veer Bhupinder Singh has done excellent work for our religion and he is a true savior.

Fateh

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

BABDAL <admin-profanity filter activated> ETC ETC ARE TO BLAME....I SAY THEY SHOULD BE DEALT WITH....

LOL, yeh, he had a rally at Raipur today. Know some people who went to hear what he has to say. One thing though - he knows how to lie on stage, a good politician is a good liar lol.

Vaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa, Vaheguroo Jee Kee Phateh!!!

[Guest PRITAM SINGH KHALSA]

Its easier to be a guiltless sinner without a turban.

Sikhs in India are getting weaker and weaker and whatever will happen will be their fault. Only a few will realize their fatal mistakes within the future. The only thing you can do is be a real Sikh and not allow others derelictions influence your way of Sikh life.

[lsingh]

If the SGPC do not do anything what about the many Sant Baba in Punjab? Why do they not launch a campaign to educate the youngsters , they have plenty of money.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/223157.cms

'Pagri not very attractive, out of tune with times'Add to Clippings

Priya Yadav

[ 30 Oct, 2006 0006hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

PATIALA: In a radical movement of sorts that is sweeping the entire expanse of Punjab, Sikh youths are taken in by a fad of shearing tresses and shedding turbans.

Ironically, the fad among youth to shed the pagri is peculiar mostly to Punjab. "It is not so much in other states like MP, UP and, hearteningly, even in Kashmir. It is more in Punjab," confirms Makkar. "We are going to have extra units of missionaries who will generate awareness about the need to have long hair," he said.

For a state which protested the loudest when the French ban on turbans was announced, the trend is almost embarrassing. All codes and manuals defining Sikh conduct are unanimous in that uncut hair is obligatory for every Sikh. But very few look at it that way.

"Maintaining it is just a tedious daily chore which can well be done away with. Besides, it is not very attractive and out of tune with times," said 30-year-old Lakhwinder Singh in Dhindsa. Lakhwinder got his hair cut defying family elders.

The reasons for what Sikh panthis call "a disturbing trend" could lie in new age dynamics. Many these days feel it is easier to go abroad without the turban - what with Americans and Europeans mistaking Sikhs for Afghans and "some Muslim tribes.

" That's why in a lot of cases there's family sanction for hair shearing.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/article...157,curpg-2.cms

'Pagri not very attractive, out of tune with times'Add to Clippings

Priya Yadav

[ 30 Oct, 2006 0006hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

The other big factor is peer pressure. With increasing money in rural areas and apparent 'westernisation', there seems to be some pressure on young Sikh men to try out party drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.

They feel it's easier to do all these without the religious load of the turban. It is estimated that 60% of Sikh youth in the 14 to 25 age group have tried these at some point of time or the other.

Opium and hash are the most common drugs being used in Punjab nowadays. So does cutting hair actually translate into apostasy for the shaven and shorn Sikh? "Not at all," refutes Shamsher Singh, a clean shaven 24-year-old in village Muradpur as he awaits his visa to Italy.

"The so-called protectors of religion are grossly corrupt despite the fact that they have beards and turbans. Just as keeping hair does not mean you are actually a devout Sikh, cutting it also doesn't mean you have no faith in God."

[mann_kaum_layee_qurbaan]

jhujaroo singhaan nu shaheed kara ki hun kate ronde ah? punjab wicho jhujaroo singhaan da sifaya kar ki hun punjab waale khende sikhi nu ki hoya...KPS Gill nu push lawo ki sikhi kithe gayee. KPS Gill de modiaan te feete lawa ki medal la ki hun kaate rone ah.

singhaan de khoon wich holi khed ki tusi ki sochia si ki sikhi asmaan tayee pahunch jaani ah.

jinaah chir punjab de log shaheedan da satkaar nahi karde, idda hi jhutiaah khaan ge. idda hi guru sahib to bemukh hon ge.

honest and blunt truth.

a place where the likes of sukha and jinda are terrorists, bhai satwant singh and beant singh are traitors and KPS Gill and CM Beant sio are considered heroes, uthe sikhi sawa huni ah? Don't expect sikhi to flourish in such a place. Sikhi flourishes where martyrs are honored and revered. Like in the west.

peace.

[Khalsa4ever]

Waheguroo jee ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo jee kee Fateh!

I'd rather they cut their hair and run around without turbans... than go and drink with a pug on giving us all a bad name.

(the point: I would prefer only good sikhs looking like sikhs than bad ones making us all look that way).

Waheguroo jee ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo jee kee Fateh!

[Mehtab Singh]

a place where the likes of sukha and jinda are terrorists, bhai satwant singh and beant singh are traitors and KPS Gill and CM Beant sio are considered heroes, uthe sikhi sawa huni ah? Don't expect sikhi to flourish in such a place. Sikhi flourishes where martyrs are honored and revered. Like in the west.

Thats true. I know 2 Singhs here in Dubai who are father and son, and guess what, they are ex-Muslims, originally from Sangrur, Punjab. The father took Amrit over here itself (in the Middle East), inspite of the fact that if a Muslim converts to another faith, he/she deserves to be killed! Talk about courage! Talk about love for Gurujee! Anyways, I met them last Friday at a Gurdwara which had its' very first keertan programme. The bajurg Singh told me that he enjoys and loves the sangat in Dubai more than in India, because in India they start whining about their life at the Gurdwara as if they were at some other place. He goes "Why waste time talking to someone who can't live under God's will!" So there you go. Those who call our shaheeds as terrorists live their lives whining. Those who can see the truth can live in chardi kala even in an Islamic country.

[palamrinder]

Sikhs Need QUALITY and not QUANTITY. I agree with khalsa4ever veer that it be good for them to cut their hair than have beadbi of guruji's saroop. Also we cant blame everything on badal and SGPC. We are losing our family values. Parents are not teaching their kids the true path of sikhi.And to add to that sikh youth in india lack role models. The shaheeds have been branded as terrorists and evil ppl like kp gill hailed as SUPERCOP. There is widespread erosion of social and religious values in punjab. The media has added fuel to fire by portraying sikh identity as a mere joke.

There are equal number of gursikhs in punjab and west alike. Its only that sikhs here are more vocal than back in punjab. As for brainwashed punjabi youths who are into drugs and clubbing, you'll find plenty everywhere. Its better if they leave sikhi than to tarnish its image with their manmat.