INTELLIGENCE

It's a tie game

By V. RADHIKA

Saturday, October 29, 2005  

This week, 12-year-old Harman Grewal had an extended tryst with the mirror.

He top-knotted his navel-length hair and picked up a four-metre-long cotton garment. He held one end in his mouth and worked with the other end to artfully wind it around his head. The turban, as prescribed by his Sikh faith, was now in place.

"It takes me 10 minutes now," he said, "but I want to bring it down to seven by the time of the competition."

Harman was preparing for the turban-tying contest at the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sikh temple in Malton today.

But as organizer Beant Singh Dhaliwal explained, speed won't be the only factor. "The judges will also look for elegance and finesse," said Mr. Dhaliwal, who is the president of Shiromani Youth Akali Dal, a Sikh youth group.

"The turban should be tied fast, it should look good and suit the person's face."

More than 100 contestants have already registered, but Mr. Dhaliwal says there is room for more.

All those interested can contact him at 416-677-4466. Or they can just show up, with their turbans, at the Malton Sikh temple between 4 and 5 p.m.

Harman said that he will be competing to win, but that the turban means more to him than a mere contest.

"The turban is not just a religious symbol but also an emblem of my identity," he said, "and I am proud of being a Sikh."