The News Minute | August 30, 2014 | 5.56 pm IST
Avtar Singh Mauni wishes he wasn’t a mere spectacle for the people who took photographs of him, or rather his turban, which is over 600 metres long and an impressive sight.
Uploaded by Barcroft TV two days ago, the video of Mauni has already been covered by several newspapers in the UK and also by some Indian media.
The video shows Mauni talking about his turban, but little else. It would have been nicer if the channel had spoken to Mauni about more than just his turban, which is 645 metres long, and costs around Rs 32,000; weighs a total of 85 kg together with the ornaments and traditional weapons. Watch the video here :
Mauni wears the blue robes of the Nihangs, an order of Sikhs, or Akalis roughly translated to mean worshippers of God. Founded as an order of warriors, the Nihangs wielded considerable influence decades ago. Today however, many of this order live a public life, still dressed in blue robes and yellow turbans.
In the video, Mauni is heard saying that he just kept adding cloth and piling it for “as high as his hands could reach”. And later, he says “I spend six hours a day wearing the turban, and they run off after taking a photo in a minute.” According to the subtitles, he wished people would talk to him instead of just starting and taking photos.