Touted as the world’s biggest ‘pagri’, a 151-inch turban is quite an attraction for the visitors at the heritage Bagore ki Haveli here.
Created by Avanti Lal Chawla of Baroda, this headgear represents the styles of turbans worn by the peasants of three bordering States — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
The left side of the turban represents the Gujarati farmers, the right Madhya Pradesh and in the middle is the Rajasthani style. Placed in the Turban Museum of the haveli, the 30-inch high turban has a circumference of 11 feet, weighs 30 kg and is 7-inches thick.
In India, headgears stand for respect, religious salutations and social identifications.
Most turbans are also meant to signify an individual’s social, economic and political status. It can speak for caste, creed, religion, trade, profession or the region a person hails from. But it also protects some communities and tribes from the severities of weather.
Also known as paagh, pagdhi, saafa, pagot, patka, potia and phenta , turbans have a special place in Indian culture and literature. Even the Vedic period has references to the use of turbans, which in Sanskrit, were known as Shirastran, Ushnish and Shirovastra.
Turbans come in various textures and different colours representing seasons and occasions. The lengths can also vary, but all require expertise in tying as the exercise can be long and winding! In the rural hinterland, villagers have improvised it to suit their need like carrying firewood and fodder, or drinking water or even helping a person in distress.
The modest collection of turbans at the Bagore ki Haveli museum has turbans mainly from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Goa.
