Seen on the Street | Portfolio of illustrator David Barneda

These are some of the things that caught my eye today while I was riding my bike around the neighborhood: A couple of pink turbans, a mailbox in the shape of a football helmet, a girl gardening, a pug standing by the edge of a wall, the “s” on the manhole, and a lost cellphone …

Here’s the story on the pink turbans:

“Turbans add brilliant splash of colour and style to monotonous and barren lands. Each colour has its own importance and significance like Ochre is the colour of the mendicant, while the saffron is commonly worn at the time of weddings. In the medieval past, the colour saffron also denoted valour and chivalry. A turban is usually 82 feet long and 8 inches wide, achieving different styles with this unstitched cloth, requires great skill. Skilled maidens in turban tying, were employed by the royal courts, but Rajasthanis generally take pride in practicing and perfecting the art of turban-tying themselves.When besieged by an enemy, and food and water supplies were scanty, desperate warriors wearing saffron turbans would sneak out of their citadels to lead sudden surprise attacks on the enemy. Turbans of specified colours are worn to mark periods of mourning. A white turban is worn for funeral processions by immediate family members. Whereas the khaki, blue and dark maroon are reserved for the solemnity of a condolence visit. Whereas in Rajasthan each caste have their own distinguishing colours, by which they are recognised, like shepherds wear red turbans, Bishnois, who are known as the most nomadic shepherd tribes and environmental conservationists, always wear white turbans and the other tribal communities wear printed turbans. Thus, the painted area is then wrapped with the tissue, plastic, or medical tape to lock in the body heat, so that it can create more intense colour on the skin. The wrap is worn overnight and then removed in the next morning. Which when washed, leaves a rich reddish brown colour on the surface of skin and can last somewhere from one to three weeks, depending on the quality of the paste. Some turban colours are seasonal to wear like in between February and March, flowers bloom and crops are harvested, it makes the best time for tourists to see the royal Rajasthani men, wearing a falgunia turban having white and red designs. Whereas in the month of July, the predominant colour is motiya or pearl pink.”

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