a symphony of hues rohan, mihika
TRANSCRIPT
A Symphony Of HuesUnderstanding the cultural
significance of Indian head-gear
Mihika ShaunikRohan Gupta
IntroductionWe set out looking for Indian head-gear, but nothing caught our eye like the vividly coloured rajasthani saafas. After loads of research and hours spent trying to learn how to tie the saafa, we asked ourselves the question -
Can we understand the cultural and social significance of Indian head-gear through the Rajasthani Saafa ?
DescriptionThe Saafa is a traditional Rajasthani head-gear, solely worn by the men-folk of Rajasthan. It varies in style, size and colour.
SaafaForm Function
1000 Types
Status Symbol
Pagari- 82 feet long8 inches wide
Saafa- 30 feet long4 feet wide
In�uenced by climate
Hot desert- large & looseFarmers & Sheperds- Enormouse due to protection fromharsh climate
Chivalry
Honour
Respect
Brotherhood
Sin to touchor removeanothers turban
Crown of a Commoner
Pride of a Ruler
Wearing the wrong turban can make you a subjectof ridicule
Sign of grosslybad behaviour ifnot worn
Colour, patter and stylevary in communities
Warriours wearing Sa�ronturbans would holdsurprise attacks
Travellers
Pillow
Blanket
Water strainer
Rope to draw waterfrom a well
Towel
Shows where the man comes from
What he doesfor a living
CeremonialSeasonal
Regular
White & red falguniya :Spring / Holi
Sa�ron :Dassehra FestivalOctoberMarriageSaint class
Green, pink,yellow striped lahariya :Monsoon
Pearl pink :JulyBrahminMothare Turban:
(Tiny round designs)Rakshabandhan Black Chunari
(Tie dye) with red borders :Diwali
Light pink :Sharaad PoornimaOctober
Birth:Dotted ChunriBright Colours
Death :(Condolence Visit)Darkblue, Maroon,Khaki
Death:(Family Member)White
Formal Occassions :(With a Jodhpuri/ Sherwani)Jari Turban (jari/ silk) Bishnois Tribe :
White Tribes :Printed
Shepherds :Red Mendicant :
Ochre
Pachrangi :Distinguished turban inthe coloured soils ofRajasthan
Jats:White
Marwaris:light coloured turbans
Gawaria:satin or violetspace to place comb, mirror
Raberi:Red cotton safaseems to cover their bodies
Kalki:Whitegeneration to generation
Kumar:Potter classRed Red and white for marriage
The following are the materials most commonly used in the making of a Saafa.
Materials
Cotton Kota Silk Chi�on
Zari Satin OjariaVoil
A saafa is an extremely long piece of cloth, which comes primarily in two sizes but there is scope for alternatives.
Size
82 feet
30 feet
4 feet
27 feet
3.5 feet
2/3 Foot
} for a bridegroom
Front
Front Back
Back Back
Front Front
FrontBack
Cloth Folds
1
3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10
2
There are 10 steps required to tie a Saafa.
How to tie a Saafa
Repeat & 15 - 20 times.
3 4
Colours and their Meaning
Sa�ronMarriage / Dassera
Black with RedDiwali
KhakhiFormal Occassion
Red & WhiteSpring / Holi
WhiteFamily Death
PanchrangiFestivities
BlueCondolence Visit
Pink,Yellow & GreenMonsoon
Red BandhaniRakshabandhan
PinkJuly
Instructables.com
How to tie a Pagari (IndianTurban)
Jugaad (Improvisation)
As a bedsheet/ blanket
As a strainer
As a rope to draw waterfrom a well
As a Towel
As a Pillow
Cultural SignificanceThe di�erent colours of a Saafa represent the saafa wearers caste, creed and region. It is a sign of honour, respect, brotherhood and chivalry.
It is said that the style changes every 14 kms, thus there are more than 1000 types. Colour, patterns and style vary in communities. Due to this variation a saafa shows where a man comes form and what his occupation is.
Farmers and Shepherds are usually seen with loosely tied Saafas where as dancers and musicians have their Saafas tightly wrapped around.
The method of tying the saafa plays an important role in distiguishing the occupation of the wearer.
A Saafa of a royal / elite is visually more extravagant and ornate than that of the common man’s.
Elite Saafa Common man’s Saafa
Long, single piece of cloth
An Identity Symbol
Strong
Versatile
Absorbant
Design Principles
ProposalsStrategy 1 :
To design a collection of Saafas for contemporary use and identification.
Strategy 2 :
To design a multi-purpose Saafa (on the basis of Jugaad)
Strategy 3 :
To design a “One Saafa for all Saafas”.
