Siropa Questions

[CdnSikhGirl]

Due to the fact that I actively fought for Sikh women to be able to tie dastar in uniform in the Canadian military, and I consequently became the first woman to do so in the Royal Canadian Navy, my sangat has given me siropa last weekend. My story had actually made it around the world on many websites, but also in print in several Indian newspapers, including the Times of India. I had no idea that my sangat were doing this, until it happened! I was so overwhelmed and filled with surprise and emotion that I was actually in tears when they gave it to me.

Now, I am wondering what to do with the actual cloth? I read that some use them as a keski, but the material s really stiff and thick so I don't think it would work well. Right now I have it with my nitnem gutka. I don't want to inadvertently do anything disrespectful with it... so for now I wrapped my gutka in it and keeping it with my other religious things. So what should I do with it??

I attached the Times Of India story...

p.s. in case you are wondering why the different name, Satkirin is just the alias I have been using for some time on forums. When I took a Sikh name, H was the letter and so I am legally 'Harkiran' Wanda Kaur. (Just in case anyone had questions why the name was different on there from my alias)

[Guest]

so for now I wrapped my gutka in it and keeping it with my other religious things. So what should I do with it??

Thats a good idea about wrapping your gutka in it...i wouldn't use it as dastar since it was given as honor.

[Koi]

If in any doubt, then just keep it with your religious items and Gutka etc.

[Guest]

On another note, hows the wider canadian navy community reaction is been regarding your decision of wearing dastar at the navy? Were they supportive or you had to face suble forms of racism within ranks?

[CdnSikhGirl]

Overall, it's been positive. In the group I directly work with, nobody has said anything negative (at least that I know of) however recently, I was removed from participating in an honour guard, and was told it was because of a medical limitation I am on right now due to my left wrist... I have my doubts because left hand doesn't really affect drill, even rifle drill is done 99% in your right. Only last year I was in a guard, and I had my wrist issue then as well and the only thing different between then and now, was the dastar.

Edited December 8, 2014 by Satkirin_Kaur

[Surreywalasingh]

Siropa has the word sir in it, it's sopposed to be worn as a keski that's why it's kesri, since keski has to be orange/yellow it's presented around your neck but meant to be worn on sir, some people use it as a hazooria but that's beadbi (siropa is a dastaar/keski) hazooria should not be orange /yellow, that colour reserved for the highest point above our dassam duar, guru angad would give his best sevadars a siropa every year guru am ardas for around six years got one and kept tying them on top of each other, Bhagat Puranas Singh also got lots siropa and tied then on top of each other getting a really big dastaar.