File talk:Sikh wearing turban.jpg

The turban or "pagri" often shortened to "pag" or "dastar" are diferent words in various dialect for the same article. All these words refer to the garment worn by both men and women to cover their heads. It is a headdress consisting of a long scarf-like single piece of cloth wound round the head or an inner hat. Traditionally in India, the turban was only worn by men (wesley jordan) of high status in society; men of low status of lower castes were not allowed or could not afford to wear a turban.

Although the turban was mandated by Guru Gobind Singh as one of the Five K's it has long been closely associated with Sikhism. Sikhism is the only religion in the world in which wearing a turban is mandatory for all adult males. Vast majority of people who wear turbans in the Western countries are Sikhs. The Sikh pagdi (ਪਗੜੀ) is also called dastaar (ਦਸਤਾਰ), which is a more respectful word in Punjabi for the turban.

Sikhs are famous for their many and distinctive turbans. The turban represents respectability, and has long been an item once reserved for nobility. Guru Gobind Singh gave all of his Sikhs turbans in recognition of the high moral status that the he charted for the Khalsa. A turbaned Sikh has always stood out from the crowd, as the Guru intended; for he wanted his 'Sant-Soldiers' to not only be easily recognizable, but easily found as well.

More appropriately known in the Panjab as a dastaar, the Sikh turban is an article of faith which was made mandatory by the founder of the Khalsa. All baptised male Sikhs are required to wear a Dastaar. Though not required to wear a turban many Sikh Kaurs (women) also choose to wear a turban. The turban is not to be regarded as merely an item of cultural paraphernalia.