Comments on: What’s HAIR got to do with it?

By: Indyeah girl

Indyeah girl — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:36:50 +0000

you’re right that women in Himachal wear “Dhatu” or headscarves. but it is also interesting that this tradition has no mention in Hindu scriptures anywhere and that the practice of wearing head scarf is only limited to Shimla.

women from Kangra and the places nearer to Punjab do not wear it. women from higher up places like Kullu, Lahaul spiti wear hats, and not scarves.

I think this could be an influence from Kashmir, as they had a large Muslim population and their women wear it too. it’s nearer to Himachal also.

and in Himachal, traditionally, women were not the only one to wear a head cover. men wear hats too. plus, women from Shimla work in the farms and are not restricted to their home. I earlier used to think that working in the farms was the reason for them to wear head scarf, but now I think it’s a mughal influence.

the purdah system in Rajasthan is also said to be practiced by the Rajput royals there as the Mughals often used to carry the women and children as spoils of war.

for there is absolute proofs from our religious sciptures, mythological scriptures and early practices that the head covering did not exist before the invasion by various Muslim rulers.

By: sanjay austa

sanjay austa — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:09:04 +0000

Hi, I am not really sure about this at all about Arabian countries. I haven’t read it anywhere either. Do you have a source to what you are saying? A book perhaps or article.? Would be interesting to know.
regards,

By: manoffireandlight

manoffireandlight — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 11:35:51 +0000

Hi there, I believe that in Arabian countries in medieval times (and before) it was common for prostitutes to have their hair and face uncovered and in order to distinguish chaste or married women laws were passed to ensure that men knew who to proposition. However, nowadays in many Arabian countries prostitution is illegal (though it still goes on), but the laws are applied to all women, because the dominant form of Islam in these countries is the puritanical Salafism.

I may be wrong, but that is as far as I know about the sum of it.

By: sanjay austa

sanjay austa — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:31:01 +0000

Thanks Anil. Yes I am from Upper Shimla too.

By: anil

anil — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:47:17 +0000

i like you photography of women with dathu, i tooo from himachal pradesh, from upper shimla where women wears dathus and you said rightly that dathus comes off when they go to shimla otherwise at village they keep there head covered wiht dathus. Dathu has its own grace but it is very sad, that new girls hates wearing this. Your sir names suggest that u too from upper shimla taaa.

By: sanjay austa

sanjay austa — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:36:26 +0000

Richa,
Thanks for the enlightening info on the head-gears. In my own experience also I have seen that most Muslim women have begun wearing the hijab post-9/ 11 to symbolically express their solidarity with Islam .

By: Richa

Richa — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:29:14 +0000

Sanjay, i feel that middle east and north africa has an interesting dichotomous situation where wearing or not wearing a headgear is symbolic to what they represent. Remember meeting this married woman in Egypt who was from a fairly liberal family. She started wearing Hijab ten years after her marriage and it was completely her choice. Egypt overall witnessed growth in woman wearing hijab and without any enforcement. ( post 9-11) Wearing it reflected close affinity to Islam. So yes, even with their modern outfit we see lot of woman it in countries like egypt, jordan, syria.

and on the other hand we have saudi arabia where the more liberal Jeddah woman ( compared to Riyadh) although continue to wear their abaya but have done away with naqab.. symbolising their defiance to the orthodox rules and regulation. ..

By: fatima

fatima — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

islam says to cover ur body along with ur heads n in islam we are ordered to wear a loose dress in which no part of our body is prominent along with wearing a veil covering our head and some part of face n it gives piousity to a women, islam gives much respect to a women by not making them a public property

By: sanjay austa

sanjay austa — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:41:12 +0000

Neelima thanks for your comment. Thats a very interesting point indeed. Turbaned men esp of states like Rajasthan are a very interesting breed indeed. However as far as women are concerned , i don’t think its so much religion as culture that determines the tradition. Many women in Islamic societies cover their head for this specific reason only. So to in Himachal. Men other than their immediate family members and husbands are not allowed to see their hair.

By: Neelima

Neelima — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 14:02:05 +0000

I think its interesting that there are communities where men cover their head – turbans – rajasthan, punjab, Haryana (and in a most elaborate and attention getting manner).So some communities cover their heads out of respect to religion as a sign of manliness… Is it culturally considered rude for women to not cover their head in the presence of a man. So what I am saying is that it is probably not that men would go nuts upon a glimpse of the hair but that its like a more respect related rule – Which of course has elements of subjugation and gender power. (like dont put your hands in your pocket and chew gum in the presence of a retired Army man