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The Sikh calls his _kurta jhagga_; it is very large and loose, bound with a scarf round the waist. The _kach_ is a sort of knickerbockers reaching to just below the knee, which they encircle tightly. Over all the Sikh wears the _choga_. In outlying villages he wears instead of the _kurta_ a _chadar_ or cloth, which he calls _khes_, on the upper part of his body. Some village Sikhs wear a _tahband_ or waistcloth instead of the _kach_. Sikhs are fond of jewelry and wear ear-rings. The dress of Sikh women does not differ greatly from that of Hindu women; but in the Sirsa district and some other parts she wears the Mahommedan _sutan_ or trousers, under the _lhenga_ or skirt. There is a small sect of Sikh known as _Akali_ or _Nihang_. Their dress is entirely of dark blue colour, the turban being also blue, high and pointed; on it are fastened three steel quoits. The quoit was the ancient weapon of the Sikh, who calls it _chakar_. Certain steel blades are stuck through the body of the turban. The Akalis also wear large flat iron rings round the neck and arms (Plate II. fig. 6). Entry: SIKH

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 4 "Independence, Declaration of" to "Indo-European Languages"     1910-1911

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