Dastar-Band

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This article is an extract from

THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. By H.H. RISLEY, INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE, OFFICIER D'ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE. Ethnographic Glossary. CALCUTTA: Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. .

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This is a Muhammadan trade never engaged in by Hindus. The Dastar-band is also known as Pagri-band, and although frequently obliged to stitch rolls of cloth, he would be offended if called Darzi, or tailor

Various shaped turbans, or head-dresses, are worn by natives of Bengal and arranged by these seamsters, but if the wife or sister is expert at needlework, the turban of the husband, or brother, is made at home. Every profession has its own distinctive head-dress, and not to wear it when visiting, or on ceremonial occasions, is considered discourteous.

Turbans are usually fashioned on a block (gola), made of jute cuttings, the nucleus (batana) being formed of pith, or old rags, around which white, variegated, or striped muslins are twisted, but "pagris" of very gaudy colours are fancied by dandies.

The following turbans are daily to be seen in Dacca:

Shor-bor, worn by Muhammadan table attendants. Lattu-dar, by Mahajans, Banias, and Amla. Ghaira, by noblemen at Darbars. Khirki-dar, by Hindustani Lalas and bankers. 'Amama, Mughalia, and Katli, the two former by Mughals and their descendants, the latter by young Bengal. Marhatta, and Mughalia-Marhatta by natives of the Dakhin. Shamla by Wakils. Jula-dar by Amla, Peshkars, and Sarishtadars.