Symbol of Dignity: The colorful culture of head covering among Afghans

 Hats and turbans used for head coverings in Afghanistan represent the diverse cultures that inhabit it, which are as popular today as they were centuries ago.  Head covering is an important part of both the Afghan way of life and clothing.

 Afghanistan, a country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, has many subcultures and ethnic groups, and the differences between them are evident in the products they use to cover their heads.  The manner in which a citizen wears a hat or a turban in this Hindu Kush state also reflects his social status.  In this way, it becomes clear which part of the country or ethnic community an Afghan belongs to.

The Uzbek hat worn in Afghanistan is usually smooth at the top and round at the sides, which also looks narrow.  It is decorated with colorful woolen embroidery.  Afghans from northern Afghanistan, such as Mazar-e-Sharif, Faryab and Jawzjan, mostly wear the hat.

The hats commonly worn by Tajiks of Afghan descent are called pakool and are made of soft sheep's wool.  It helps to keep the head warm in severe cold.

 Ahmad Shah Massoud, an anti-Taliban commander and Tajik-born political leader killed in a bomb attack in the past, also wore a pakool.  He and several of his comrades-in-arms from the Panjshir Valley wore the hat far behind their heads.

 The custom of covering the head

 In Afghanistan, it is customary for men to cover their heads at a happy occasion, such as a wedding.  They use a special kind of cloth to cover their heads, just like the bridegroom in Gilgit and its environs in Pakistan.