Sindhi Topi

The Sindhi cap or Sindhi topi (Sindhi: سنڌي ٽوپي ) is a hat worn predominantly by Sindhi people of Sindh province - however, it has been also adopted by the Baloch people and Saraiki people. Together with ajrak, Sindhi Topi is regarded as an essential part of Sindhi culture and a symbol of Sindhi nationalism for hundreds of years.^[1]

The hat is circular/cylindrical except for a portion cut out in the front to expose the forehead. Intricate geometrical designs are embroidered on the hat, and very often small pieces of mirror are sewed into it also. In Sindhi culture, the Sindhi cap is often given as a gift or as a sign of respect, along with the ajrak. In December 2009, "Sindhi Cap Day" was celebrated inPakistan's Sindh province to celebrate the Sindhi cap, and Sindhi culture in general. In 2010, the day was renamed to Sindhi Cultural Day. Hand-woven Sindhi Topis are work of hard labour. Sindhi Topi is primarily produced in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar, Kandhkot,Larkana, Nawabshah and some other districts of the Sindh.^[2]

History of Sindhi Topi (Cap)

If we march along the course of history due to opulence and generosity of Sindh different communities of the world has been moved here, the majority among out comers were Persian, Greek, Arab, Aryans, Turkhan, Mongols, Dutch, French, English etc: this cruel course of history is continued even today, because the advent of nomadic nations and gipsy communities from different parts of the earth and outside provinces or bordering countries toward Sindh is never stopped. Sindhi people not only welcomed the wandering visitors used to come here from different regions of the world through ages but also impressed them with loving behavior and warm hospitality on such scale that mainstream among the infiltrators preferred to live here rather than to go back their respective homelands. Every travelling family, ethnic group or nation which moved around here, carried their ways of life, like traditions, values, rites, rituals,culture, folklore, dwelling systems, ideologies, beliefs, philosophies etc: along with them, the inhabitants of Sindh patronized those all cordially, while among the guests who went back to their respective native soils sponsored communal values, spiritual stuffs and cultural principles of Sindh amid them.

Sources: Wikipedia , Jamali4u.com