2. Introduction
We 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 ?
3. Description
The Saafa is a traditional Rajasthani
head-gear, solely worn by the men-folk
of Rajasthan.
It varies in style, size and colour.
4. Saafa
Form Function
1000 Types
Status Symbol
Pagari- 82 feet long
8 inches wide
Saafa- 30 feet long
4 feet wide
Influenced by climate
Hot desert- large & loose
Farmers & Sheperds-
Enormouse due to
protection from
harsh climate
Chivalry
Honour
Respect
Brotherhood
Sin to touch
or remove
anothers turban
Crown of a
Commoner
Pride of a Ruler
Wearing the wrong turban
can make you a subject
of ridicule
Sign of grossly
bad behaviour if
not worn
Colour, patter and style
vary in communities
Warriours wearing Saffron
turbans would hold
surprise attacks
Travellers
Pillow
Blanket
Water strainer
Rope to draw water
from a well
Towel
Shows where the
man comes from
What he does
for a living
Ceremonial
Seasonal
Regular
White & red falguniya :
Spring / Holi
Saffron :
Dassehra Festival
October
Marriage
Saint class
Green, pink,yellow
striped lahariya :
Monsoon
Pearl pink :
July
Brahmin
Mothare Turban:
(Tiny round designs)
Rakshabandhan Black Chunari
(Tie dye) with
red borders :
Diwali
Light pink :
Sharaad Poornima
October
Birth:
Dotted Chunri
Bright 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 in
the coloured soils of
Rajasthan
Jats:
White
Marwaris:
light coloured turbans
Gawaria:
satin or violet
space to place comb, mirror
Raberi:
Red cotton safa
seems to cover
their bodies
Kalki:
White
generation to generation
Kumar:
Potter class
Red
Red and white
for marriage
5. The following are the materials most
commonly used in the making of a Saafa.
Materials
Cotton Kota Silk Chiffon
Zari Satin OjariaVoil
6. 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
7. 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
8. Colours and their Meaning
Saffron
Marriage / Dassera
Black with Red
Diwali
Khakhi
Formal Occassion
Red & White
Spring / Holi
White
Family Death
Panchrangi
Festivities
Blue
Condolence Visit
Pink,Yellow & Green
Monsoon
Red Bandhani
Rakshabandhan
Pink
July
10. Jugaad (Improvisation)
As a bedsheet/ blanket
As a strainer
As a rope to draw water
from a well
As a Towel
As a Pillow
11. Cultural Significance
The different 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.
12. 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.
13. 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
14. Long,single piece of cloth
An Identity Symbol
Strong
Versatile
Absorbant
Design Principles
15. Proposals
Strategy 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”.
