Patka



Patka is a Sikh headgear in lieu of the full Sikh turban. It is worn by young Sikh boys to cover a small topknot called joora.

Patka is usually a square piece of cloth with four strings attached at the corners for tying.

Patka in sports
A different way of wearing a patka is used by sportsmen: covering the head but not tying the joora.

In 2014 there was a row with FIBA about two Sikh Indian players, Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh wearing patkas during the FIBA Asia Cup. In 2017 FIBA lifted the patka ban. In 2018 Indian wrestler Jashkawar Gill was denied the participation in a tournament in Turkey for his refusal to replace his patka with a women-style tying of hair allowed by the United World Wrestling rules.