The following is an extract from "The Spiritual Strength of Women" that Shanti Kaur Khalsa presented at the Women's Seminar at the World Sikh Samelan, Amritsar 1995.

Bana: The Khalsa Uniform

Bana is our own flag. Bana is our nishan that states unequivocally who are we. If we have the dress and fashion of a movie star, that makes a statement as to who we are. If we wear the clothes of a beggar, that also tells the world what our status is. And if we wear the bana of the Khalsa, this makes a statement that cannot be ignored by the hardest of hearts. Bana is the image and dress of grace. Bana is the five k's of the Khalsa: Kesh, Kachera, Kanga, Kara and Kirpan.

Each of these beautiful accoutrements give us strength and beauty. Bana is a statement that says, with a look, that I belong to Guru Gobind Singh, and He belongs to me. I belong to the Khalsa and Khalsa belongs to me as the drop of water forever merges into the ocean.

I would like to share with you my own story and experiences in relation to the bana of the Khalsa. When I first became a Sikh, twenty-three years ago, I have never seen an Indian Sikh woman. I knew only American Sikhs, and in fact, very few of these. But I knew that Kesh and Dastar were part of the 5 k's of Guru Gobind Singh. And I knew that Guru Gobind Singh promised:

If the Khalsa maintains a distinct path, I shall give them all strength. But if the Khalsa leaves the path, then I will withdraw my recognition.

Well, as a young woman of 18 years, full of the spirit of life and the excitement of discovering the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, it never occurred to me to not wear a turban. The Khalsa of Guru Gobind Singh wore the dastar, and that was who I wanted to be. So it was with great sincerity that I tied my first turban. From the moment I put on a turban, the effect was immediate and exciting. Physiologically speaking, the turban creates a dramatic effect on the body. The human skull is not solid, but is made up of 52 moving plates, whose alignment affects our well being and our mental process.

Osteopathic doctors have developed a science of cranial adjustments to treat many general and specific ailments. By tying the turban, and thus creating the proper pressure and angles, the bones of the skull are automatically adjusted, and remain aligned throughout the day. In situations of mental activity or emotional stress, when the cranial bones tend to go out of proper alignment, the turban contains and maintains the integrity of the skull. this contributes greatly to our strength and ability to succeed under pressure. In addition to this, the effect of the Kesh properly combed-up and the accupressure points that the turban presses at the temple contributes to the person's ability to maintain an elevated state of mind, a higher state of consciousness. All this is apparent to me the very first day I wore the turban of the Khalsa.

But as you can imagine, the most dramatic effect of wearing is not physiological but rather social. Wearing a turban is to walk the niaara path. My parents and my friends were stunned. they thought they had lost me, but of course they had not. Rather the experience of being distinct had made me more committed to the welfare of those around me, because everything I do is highlighted and examined by others.

Now that I have lived my life experiencing the benefits of the turban, I can tell you honestly that you are missing a great advantage by not doing so. I have been given the respect and the status of a spiritual woman, even when I myself have been filled with self-doubt and misgivings. This I see as Guru Gobind Singh Ji fulfilling his promise, giving me strength even when I do not have strength myself. This beautiful dastar proclaims to the entire world that I belong to Guru Gobind Singh and that is a reality I will never deny.

Shanti Kaur.