THE ORIGINAL BLING SINGH

Turbans have been a part and parcel of Sikh identity ….the way rest of the world percieves this of a sardar or a surd (in the modern lingo) is a bearded guy with a headgear…probably colourful (coz bollywood movies really mess it up with surds indulging in buffoonery at best & totally cartoonish outfits including colourful turbans…….which is not true if one is familiar with the Punjabi culture as such…

Talking of turbans & turban tying one man who single handedly defined the style of turban tying and gave it a distinctive look was Maharaja Bhupinder Singh….a man best known for his extravagant & highly colourful life…..it is said he had 88 children from his close to hundred maharanis ,ranis and concubiles………he spent almost 60% of his state expenditure on family expenses alone!!!!!!:)

Anyways moving on to the real topic,it was during his reign that the turban gained much prominence & a different style….it is said it used to take upto 3 hrs to tie the distinctive Patiala shahi turban & jewellery formed an integral part of the whole look …the fully adorned Patiala shahi turban looked a statement in itself with a ruby & emerald encrusted kalgi(aigrette) as well pearl strings which were attached to it and tied at the back….the result….opulance & extravegence at its best!!!!!!

One of the interesting features of this style of turban tying is that consists of folded layers referred to as “lars” of muslin cloth on both sides thumb is used to create a depression near the forehead to create a triangular effect with a cloth tied beneath the turban known as fifty……………

The princely state of Patiala had state colours .ie. light pink & lemon and maharaja was supposed adorn a different colour as per the occasion….for eg…light pink was for special & festive occasions……a tarboozi(watermelon colour was worn for dusshehra festival while dhani rang(dark green )colour was adorned for muslim festival mohharam!!Another interesting feature of this turban tying was that the earlobes were left half uncovered because the maharaja had a major fetish for ear rings!!!Overall it presented a well rounded look with its rear being flat………

The early form of Patiala shahi turban consisted of seven and a half meters of fabric cut in half & sewn together to double the width ,lightly startched in the last fold or “lar”.Best quality of mal mal cloth was specially brought from Dhaka for the best outcome………..

These days a much modified version of this style is sported by the sikh youth though basic elements like rounded look & folds on both sides of the forehead with a triangular cloth tied beneath it remains the same………..

There are other three distinctive styles of pagg tying prevelant today which are quite different from this style. They are the Ludhiana style & the amritsari style…while Ludhiana style consists of six or seven folds tied at one end while the other end kept plain & the turban itself tilted on one side.Amritsari style pagg or the tikhi pagg is tied on the hair bun itself and has six folds with the folds projecting out to form a sharp look…………..

In the end for all those young men who still have the guts to adore a turban……“A well kept surd with a perfect turban can surely make hearts swoon & attract glances”…. A tip from an elderly gentlemen who still adorns the Patiala shahi pagg in its old style n format……a Patiala turban along with silk tie & cufflings from tiffany form a definite style statement…….and who said that the turbans look all the same!!!!!:) a wedding style tip….. a kundan aigrette looks wow with a simple turban transforming it to a style statement when u want to look your best for that special day..

Three cheers of patiala peg to the original Bling Singh......the Magnificent Maharajah Bhupinder Singh:)))))