The turban is a long-standing tradition for Sikh soldiers serving in the British Army and is now part of their uniform.
Headdresses are worn by India’s three major faiths, with Sikhs having worn turbans for over 500 years.
Originally a sign of noble birth, today it represents equality and community within a religion.
Major Daljinder Singh Virdi of the Defense Sikh Network said: “The turban itself was a sign of royalty and was reserved for individuals of a certain caste.
“The idea of giving a turban to everyone was the idea of creating equality in society.
“So it’s a badge of honor and a sign of respect.”
The official guide of the Armed Forces states that the turban must be of the same color as the type of headdress worn by other members of the unit.
Therefore, Sikh members of the Royal Corps of Signals will wear dark blue turbans, just as non-Sikhs wear dark blue berets.
Unit cap badges are worn on both types of headdresses.
According to official guidelines, Sikh faculty members can wear turbans with any attire.
However, a less bulky version of the turban is worn under the standard helmet for safety purposes, such as when soldiers are on the firing range or during exercises where live ammunition is used.
Major Virdy explained: “The principle is very simple: we wear turbans that are equivalent to the headdresses of our colleagues.
“If they wear a green beret, we wear the same color, a green turban.
“If they have a colored regimental band on their hat, we will wear that colored regimental band on our turbans.”
Five centuries of tradition represent not only individuals, but also nations, organizations, and faiths.
