Sikh Turban Competition: Punjabi Radio Holds International Tying Tournament To Raise Awareness (PHOTOS)

SAN JOSE -- Turbans are not usually seen as a part of traditional American attire, but they are articles of faith and an integral part of the dress of Sikhs, whose religion was founded over 500 years ago in South East Asia. Since 9/11, Sikhs have been targets of hate crimes and discrimination, often being mistaken for Muslims. Facing peer pressure, some younger Sikhs have shied away from donning the traditional turban.

In order to raise awareness of Sikh identity and promote pride among younger American Sikhs, the San Jose-based Punjabi Radio USA launched a turban tying competition on Facebook last year, attracting thousands of participants across the globe. The news of the competition hit streets across the world as pictures of colorful turbans started pouring into Punjabi Radio’s Facebook page.

This year’s Second World Sikh Turban Competition attracted hundreds of participants, while thousands of others took part in voting for the winners. Although the competition was geared toward the Sikh community, several non-Sikhs enthusiastically joined in the competition.

Lakhveer Singh Sidhu, resident of Fresno, Calif., was declared the winner of the grand prize -- a new iPad. His turban was “liked” by close to 10,000 Facebook fans. Other prizes included the Amazon Kindle and Streaming Audio Players and were awarded to winners who hailed from places as far away as Ludhiana (Punjab, India), Fremont (California) and Houston (Texas).

Check Out These Prize Wining Turbans

Loading Slideshow

• Group Dumala: Traditional turban - 1st Position - Gurjant Singh - Fremont

• Group Dumala: Traditional turban - 2nd Position - Tejinderpal Singh - Bathinda

• Group Dumala: Traditional turban - 3rd Position - Tejinderpal Singh - Ludhiana

• Group Keski: Small turban worn by women - 1st Position - Hoonur Kaur - Fresno

• Group Keski: Small turban worn by women - 2nd Position - Manjinder Kaur - Texas

• Group Keski: Small turban worn by women - 3rd Position - Harsharan Kaur - Punjab

• Group Above 16 years: For Adults - 1st Position - Lakhvir Singh Sidhu - Fresno

• Group Above 16 years: For Adults - 2nd Position - Pawan Singh Sidhu

• Group Above 16 years: For Adults - 3rd Position - Surjit Singh - Houston

• Group Under 16 years: For Kids - 1st Position - Joshdeep Singh Sanghera

• Group Under 16 years: For Kids - 2nd Position - Luvdeep Singh Shergill - Fresno

• Group Under 16 years: For Kids - 3rd Position - Sahibbir Singh & Sehajbir Singh

Related on HuffPost:

Comments

[Centrist 53]

06:36 PM on 05/10/2012

These turbans are very cool. Our local store owner is Sikh, and traded out his turban for a knit cap. I was so disappointed when I went back in the store.

[loutrerouge]

10:50 PM on 05/08/2012

This raises awareness: of parental indoctrination of children into sexist religion traditions that reinforce as us versus them mentality.

[BravoFour]

05:09 PM on 05/10/2012

How is Sikhism sexist? My understanding is that women are treated as equals, and can fully participate in or lead all religious ceremonies.

[loutrerouge]

05:46 PM on 05/10/2012

As a woman I will remind you (a fellow woman it apeears) that sexism can impact men too. Forcing boys to wear special outfits just for being boys is as inegalitarian and indoctrinating as female head coverings in patriarchal faiths. At least Sikhs reject circumcision, one of the most widespread abuses against children's dignity done in the name of religious identity.

[Mark Helfgott]

03:45 AM on 05/04/2012

No crossover

[Mark Helfgott]

03:44 AM on 05/04/2012

When looking for a special turban for that special night out on the town i am always reminded of that tried and true aphorism, "Sikh and yee shall find".

[MtnMojo]

12:15 AM on 05/04/2012

I learned something new today! Thanks for this article!

[blueswithafeeling]

11:12 PM on 05/03/2012

I know some Sikhs-- great people with good hearts and tats.

[blumssgr]

07:36 PM on 05/03/2012

We had an incident shortly after 9/11. A Sikh was taken from an Amtrak train by police as a possible terrorist. I'm sure every kind of cop was in on the action. They didn't have any idea what a Sikh was. To make it worse he carried on his person a ceremonial dagger - not a weapon but a symbol. He was in hot water for quite a while until the "authorities" puzzled it out that he was not a terrorist. We have thousands of terrorists in America - sadly, they are born and raised American. Sixteen THOUSAND Americans murdered by Americans every year. Thousands killed in traffic accidents by drunks, addicts, hot heads - you name it. Time to come home to our own country and get things HERE straight. War:: Just another Government entitlement program.

[SylvreWolfe]

03:25 PM on 05/14/2012

Yeh, that ceremonial dagger can hurt a lot of armed police officers, can't it? Yes, I mock people who fear the ceremonial daggers. I use one myself, though not a Sikh. People are allowed to carry guns, but those daggers are strictly regulated. It's funny in that sad, pathetic kind of way.

[belldn3]

03:42 PM on 05/03/2012

Never knew.

[tenaclark]

02:13 PM on 05/03/2012

This is a beautiful tradition.

[lynx781]

01:29 PM on 05/03/2012

Interesting. I thought a tie was complicated.

[brokenleoheart]

01:08 PM on 05/03/2012

the guy w/ the hot pink turban is kinda cute

[James Ally]

06:39 AM on 05/21/2012

you are tasteless !!!

[brokenleoheart]

09:46 AM on 05/21/2012

get off ur high horse and buy a mirror for urself first

[Tenjikuronin]

01:24 PM on 05/03/2012

That would be a scarf.

[jheing]

06:55 PM on 05/03/2012

English much?

[Tracie Thompson Smith]

01:04 PM on 05/03/2012

And we care about this WHY?!!!

[Dancenownzen]

04:11 PM on 05/03/2012

Perhaps for educational purposes which leads to better understanding which leads to mutual respect which leads to a more tolerant and civilized world

[Ceselli]

05:53 AM on 05/04/2012

Well put !

[Brianna Cole]

06:59 AM on 05/04/2012

Cheers F&F

[HowlingVoyager]

05:04 PM on 05/03/2012

If by 'we' you mean 'you', then obviously you don't. I guess if it doesn't revolve around you, it's not important.

Question: If you didn't care, why did you read it in the first place? Or even comment? Seems a lot of effort for very little reward. All the information you needed to avoid being offended was right there in the article's title. Are you that desperate for attention?

[phxart1]

12:34 PM on 05/03/2012

I had a Sikh friend who was also my birth coach when my first child was born. She was a lovely person, kind and gentle. She helped me through a difficult labor and shared techniques of relaxation and meditation. She always had her hair wrapped in a turban which was beautifully done. I admired her for her compassion for me and for her religious devotion. I never heard an unkind word from her about any other person, Sikh or otherwise.

[officer peaches]

12:30 PM on 05/03/2012

thats really sikh