Rajasthani Turban - Symbol of Prestige and Pride

Rajasthani Turbans

by @Kurt993

Rajasthan, the land of worriers, the Hindu Rajpoots. If you will travel to Rajasthan you will find people wearing different type and colors of the Rajasthani turban. Each Turban has its own story. Although, in ancient time a turban was a cloth that was kept soaked in water overnight and tied on the head in the morning. It was an ancient way of escaping from the harsh and blazing heat of the sun in the desert. But with time this turban become the symbol of pride, prestige, and status for the people of Rajasthan.

A man wearing an entangled huge turban

Turban was also used to differentiate between the people of different caste and regions. In local Rajasthani language, a turban is named as a "safa", "paag" or "Pagri". I have found that turban in Rajasthan is an important aspect of a man's dress code, a man without his turban is never considered as formally dressed. It can be weaved from as long as 82 feet long and eight inches wide piece of cloth.

If you ever get a chance to visit Udaipur then you can visit one of the famous museum "Bagore ki Haveli" to witness the world's biggest turban. This 151-inch turban is must visit for the travelers at the heritage Bagore Ki Haveli in Udaipur. The turban is 30 inches high and has a circumference of 11 feet, and it weighs 30 kg with 7 inches thickness. You can visit this museum (Bagore ki Haveli) to watch the collection of turbans it has mainly from Rajasthan.

The world's biggest turban at Bagore ki Haveli, Udaipur

If we talk about Rajasthani turban then its significance in Rajasthan is different. A Rajasthani turban is more of a culture and tradition than a religion. It has become a colorful and vibrant part of ones daily attire in Rajasthan. If one travel to the villages of Rajasthan, you will see people in vibrant and huge complicated turbans and it's a common sight. Turban was originated in the Rajpoot families. Wearing a Rajasthani turban was a ritual for men in Rajpoot families at any special occasion. Even you can witness children wearing colorful turbans on these occasions.

From wearing a cloth as a scarf to protect one from the harsh and scorching heat of the sun, it has evolved into different types of Rajasthani turbans to be more effective. It is said that "The style of a Rajasthani turban changes on every 15 km in Rajasthan". And there are more than 1000 kinds of Rajasthani turbans and their styles of wearing it.


you will see a man from the Camel Herder community wearing an entangled huge turban as they have to travel in the desert with there lambs and camels. On the other hand, you will see a man from the Langas community (The musicians) wearing a less heavy and more colorful Rajasthani turban as if they want to gram your attention both with the music and the attire.

Jodhpuri Safa

But my favorite is the famous Jodhpuri Safa, its colors and the way it is tied on the head. Jodhpuri Safa is that Rajasthani turban, which I would like to wear. But what is have found is that the most famous Rajasthani turban is the Pancharangi Turban, which was originally worn by Rajpoots.