2,000ft and 100lb … the record-breaking turban
IT weighs 100lb, is 2,116ft long and can take up to six hours to put on.
This is the world’s largest turban – and under it is its proud owner, devout Sikh Avtar Singh Mauni.
The 60-year- old Indian holy man from Patiala, in the Punjab, has been regularly adding to it for the past 16 years and it is now the same length as 13 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
‘I don’t consider it to be a burden,’ he said. ‘I’m most happy when I wear it. I just keep putting on the cloth from top to bottom one layer at a time just like you would lay the storeys of a building.
‘On the rare times I don’t have my turban on I keep getting this feeling of being incomplete, that some part of me is missing.’
He added: ‘Until the time I have no more strength in my limbs I will carry this turban on my head.’
The height and width of his turban makes entering doorways a nightmare and getting into a car is impossible. So he rides a motorcycle on his regular pilgrimages across the Punjab.
Most other Sikhs wear turbans of between 16ft and 23ft. The length of the cloth is yet to be officially verified but if correct it would overtake current Guinness World Record holder Major Singh, whose turban measured 1,312ft.
Mr Mauni says the purple and orange cloth alone weighs 66lb but the addition of decorative ornaments takes it to 100lb. In full attire Avtar, who belongs to the warrior order of Sikhs, also carries a sword and heavy bangles which weigh an extra 87lb.
His efforts are impressing many in the local Sikh community. Gurpreet Singh said: ‘These days many Sikh children choose to cut their hair and have forgotten to wear turbans. But he reminds us of its importance, which is very good.’