I have 3 women in my life who appreciate my long hair and
encourage me to grow them long and strong. They take care of my hair through
hair oiling, head massage and helping me to sport in different styles. First are
my elder sister Uma, my mother Laxmi and my cousin Savita.
Now, there is one more addition to this group of women, a
young Sikh girl Japtej Kaur whom I met in bus and she was curious about my long
hair. We decided to meet. Today being weekly off, we decided to meet at Japtej Kaur’
s home.
Since I met her, I stopped shaving and allowed facial hair
to grow and I have been coiling my hair on top of my head like a Sikh boy in my
home also.
My mother was upset with me as she wants me to be like her
daughter at home wearing Uma's clothes, sporting hair like a woman and clean
shaven.
Mother asked me, Why you are living like a Sikh man? I gave
lame excuse.
Today morning, I again rolled my hair on top of head in a
topknot and wrapped them in patka as sported by Sikh boys.
I went to Japtej Kaur’ s home. When I entered her house, I
found two pretty girls with hair reaching their buttockss. I recognized Japtej
Kaur the other one was her young brother with equally long hair. His name is
Satvir Singh.
His mother entered in the drawing room. She was sporting her
thick long hair in a nicely oiled braid.
Her father works in India Army and currently posted in
Assam.
Japtej Kaur introduced me to her mother and younger brother.
Her mother was so happy to see a Sikh boy but Japtej Kaur clarified that he is
not a Sikh man but a Tamil boy with long hair.
They insisted me to remove my patka and show them my long
hair.
So, I opened my topknot and let my long hair loose. With
strokes of hand, I made them straight and brushed back.
My hair length is crossing my mid back. All of them
appreciated my hair length and quality of hair.
Mother appreciated my vow, not to cut hair and encouraged
me.
Since, Japtej Kaur and Satvir Singh have washed their hair,
aunty wanted to oil and comb their hair. She asked me to watch their hair oiling
She brought a bottle of Sesame oil. Sesame oil is popular in
Punjab for hair oiling.
She began with Japtej Kaur. She poured handful of oil in
palm and poured on her scalp. Then she massaged her head by tapping her palm
over her head. Again she poured large quantity of oil in palm and started
applying on her long hair. Her hair was neatly oiled. Then she brushed her hair
backward and started combing neatly. She removed tangles and matted hair and
preserved them as Hair is god’s gift for Sikhs so they don't throw it in
garbage but in Holy River at their pilgrimage centre.
She started braiding her hair and what a beautiful, shiny
tight braid crossing her buttocks. Amazing.
Then she asked her to prepare tea for us and called Satvir
Singh.
She asked her to take his hair in front and combed them in
reverse direction. She poured lots of hair oil and combed his hair from his
neck in front direction. After combing, she started braiding in reversed
direction and after his braid was done, she coiled his braid on top of his
head.
It was my turn. Mother suggested me to sport hair like
Satvir Singh and I also sported oiled braided bun.
We chatted over a cup of tea and then I signed out.
At home, mother smelled my hair and asked me which hair oil
you applied, when I replied sesame oil she was not happy at all.
It's clash of culture. In south India its coconut oil
preferred whereas in north its sesame oil
Mother asked me to wash it thoroughly so that I can get rid
of it.
It's situation like "Two States" movie in our
home.
Let's see.
