Arab Headdress & Ghutra – Unique feature of a Culture

When ever we think of the people of the Middle East, or see the news or movies on the media about the Middle East, then there is one distinctive feature that we cannot seem to ignore- the Arab Headdress, or keffiyeh/kufiya, which is also called as a ghutrah (غترة), ḥaṭṭah (حطّة), mashadah (مشدة) , shemagh (شماغ) or in Persian chafiye (چفیه), and Turkish puşi. For men, the wearing of this feature is very necessary for the pride and adulthood. Honor and wisdom in the Middle East are very necessary. Furthermore, there is also the practical application of the Arab Headdress. In English, it is known as Arab Headdress, but in the native languages of the many countries that come in the Middle East, the names are quite different.

Besides the symbol of honor, and the wisdom, the Arab Headdress is also regarded as the national symbol of the countries like the Palestine, and for some armies, and troops of these countries, it is also being used as the symbol for the special troops. The main purpose in the older times was to protect oneself from the direct exposure of the sun, and the searing heat and the prevention of the mouth to take in the sand and dust that were blown by winds in the sand storms. Later, this became the symbol of the people living in these regions. Furthermore, the patterns that are used in the designing of the Arab Keffiyeh are thought to be the similar ones that were used in the Mesopotamian era.

There are many variations and varieties of the Arab Headdress according to the regional differences that are present, and therefore, they have their own usage. The color patterns, and the designs, and also the material used in the making of the Arab Turban according to the seasonal conditions and the traditions, gives many varieties  of the Arab Ghutra as we can see today. Still, many designers are adding different kinds of the new designs that can help the new person in making the distinction of the culture.

Not only the Arabic countries, like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine, Iraq and like these, are using the Arab Headdress, but the countries in the Africa like Egypt, Sudan, etc. have also the people who use the Arab Headdress as the symbol. There are many things that can be added in the making of the Arab Headdress, and these are also the ones that will make the other people in the recognition of what they are?

The history has also provided the evidence in the importance of the Arab Headdress. One of the big examples is the Arab Ghutra used as the symbol for the Arab Revolt in 1930s. Hence, it became the national symbol and the symbol of solidarity of the Palestinian people. For many decades, this Arab Headdress was used for the military purposes. For many years, they were used by the British soldiers in the region. During the Second World War and the many others that followed, this was the main symbol for the soldiers fighting in the regions. Hence, the Arab Headdress has much significance in the area.