### TURBANS PAGADI , OF MEWAR

While the beautiful ladies of Rajasthan captivate others with their colourful Chunris and Cholis , their male counterparts embellish their heads with colourful turbans . Both of them present the splendid and captivating royal traditions and culture of Rajasthan .
     A nine metre  long cloth is dyed in brilliant colours . Muslin is the commonly used fabric as it is light weight but voluminous and airy . Cotton is also used . Also popular are turbans in fabrics such as silk , paper silk  and cotton Zardozi .
      Out of the whole state of Rajasthan, this head- dress is most popular in Mewar . Bakhram Paag  is the most widely used head-dress . Among other popular ones are  Udaishahi named after Maharana  Udaisingh , Amarshahi named after Maharana Amar Singh , Bheemshahi named after Maharana Bheem Singh, Swaroopshahi named after Maharana Swaroopsingh and Aarsi  named after Maharana Aarisingh. They were  most common during the reign of the Maharanas after whom they were  named.
      In Rajasthan,  different communities have their distinct kinds of turbans. Rajputs have their signature five coloured turban while Bishnois and Ram Snehies wear plain white turbans. Raikas  and Kabirs prefer bright red  coloured turbans. The Sanyasis wear the ochre ones .Coloured turbans with check prints are worn by Langas  and Kalbeliyas. The royal families still prefer Sirpench fixed on the pure  fabric for the Rajwadi .
      Different types of turbans are worn on different occasions. On the occasion of death , white turban without any decoration is worn . On the happy occasion of marriage etc. only the bridegroom used to wear a turban. Now the fashion is that all the Baratis also put on turbans. Another practice is that when a person is to be  honoured a turban is put on his head.
    Head-dress is much more than any accessory. It protects one from scorching heat of the sun.  Farmers and shepherds wear big turbans. At times tired travellers also use them as makeshift pillows ,  a sheet for covering them body and as well as a towel. They can be unknotted and used as ropes to draw water from wells.
 Bagore Ki Haveli of Western Zone Cultural Centre , Udaipur has a huge fascinating collection of turbans. It has perhaps the biggest Pagdi in the world that is 11 feet in  circumference ,  15 feet long , 30 inches high and 30 kilos in weight.
    Impelled by their Bhakti of Lord Ram a team of Udaipur ladies sent 500 Mewari Paags  to Ayodhya on the occasion of opening Ram Mandir on 22nd January 2024. They were  prepared in just seven days.