The curiosity of young students about the Sikh turban has led to an educational session organised by Sikh Aware NZ at Allenton School in Ashburton, South Island.
Sikh Aware NZ is a charity with the aim to educate people of the teachings of Sikhism, the significance of dastar or turban and how to create more cultural inclusiveness and acceptance at schools, community and workplaces.
“A Sikh student wearing turban was a subject of constant inquisitive enquiries by fellow students at the Allenton School in Ashburton that gave us [Sikh Aware] an opportunity to host an educational session for the young students, Harpreet Singh, convenor of Sikh Aware NZ told The Indian Weekender.
The Sikh Aware NZ team travelled to the school and held the session attended by approximately 125 students where they were given lessons about the basics of Sikhism, the teachings, turbans- its importance for a Sikh individual, tying a turban etc.
“The session was very well received by the students, and we demonstrated opening and tying the turban on the Sikh student in the school.
“The Principal of the school, Bruce Tilby, was very impressed with the session and said that he and the students got to know a lot about the Sikh faith including information about the five Kakkars worn by the Sikhs,” Harpreet added.
In the Q&A session that followed, Harpreet answered several inquisitive and innocent questions of the young students such as “What do Sikhs do with the turban when sleeping and bathing?”, “How is a turban made?”, “what does a Sikh do to the turban while swimming?” and also “do Sikh Women also wear turbans?” etc.
Sikh Aware has been conducting such sessions at multiple schools across New Zealand as they help satiate the curiosity about the Sikh Turban which the students in the school have. The outcomes of such sessions strengthen Kiwi students’ bonding with Sikh students, and the students treat each other with more love, respect and acceptance of the differences.
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