The dastar or the Sikh turban is deeply intertwined with the Sikh identity. It is a symbol of sovereignty, dedication, self-respect, courage and piety and the reason all practising Sikhs wear the turban is out of love and obedience to the wishes of the founders of their faith. But for the first time, a turban has saved the life of a teen. Avtar Hothi, a farmer in Kamloops used his turban to save a teen who had fallen into the cold waters of a nearby river.
On June 28 CBCnews reported, Avtar Hothi and his son, Paul, were on their farm near Heffley Creek when they noticed a teen struggling in the North Thompson River close to their farm. Avtar Hothi quickly sprang to action and took off his turban, threw it into the water to pull her to shore.
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(Image used for representational purpose) A Sikh man in front of Golden Temple. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Paul told CBCnews that the girl who was about 14 or 15 years old was in a state of shock and was freezing as the water was very cold. Paul says that he doesn't know how she fell into the river. They covered her with a blanket to warm her up and drove her back to her grandmother's house which was a few minutes from their farm. The girl's relatives confirmed a member of the family was rescued after falling into the river but didn't want to speak to media about the incident.
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Paul Hothi said that his father doesn't usually take his turban off outside their home. The Dastaar has been an important part of the Sikh religion since the time of the First Guru.When a Sikh man or woman dons a turban, the turban becomes more than a piece of cloth. The turban is a manifestation of the mission given to all Sikhs that is to act as a divine being by standing firm against tyranny and protecting the weak.
"I'm very proud of him," said Paul Hothi, referring to his 65-year-old dad.
-This article is compiled by a staff-writer at NewsGram.
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