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For 200 years Sikhs wore bearskin caps on official duty. But Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar was given permission to wear his religious headdress instead. History was made at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday when a Sikh soldier became the first guardsman to wear a turban instead of a traditional bearskin. Britain’s Ministry of Defence says a Sikh […]

For 200 years Sikhs wore bearskin caps on official duty. But Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar was given permission to wear his religious headdress instead. History was made at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday when a Sikh soldier became the first guardsman to wear a turban instead of a traditional bearskin. Britain’s Ministry of Defence says a Sikh soldier has become the first guardsman to parade outside Buckingham Palace while wearing his traditional turban.

Bhullar, a 27-year-old soldier with the Scots Guards regiment, was quoted by Britain’s Press Association as saying: “Conducting public duties while being a practicing Sikh and wearing my turban is a great honor for me.” Other Sikhs have taken part in guarding the queen’s palace, but they wore traditional bearskin hats rather than turbans.
There had been some backlash against Bhullar’s desire to wear his turban while on duty and this exemption from wearing the bearskin was criticized by some former members of his regiment, the London Evening Standard reported. But Singh had strong public support and the backing of the Ministry of Defense.

“We welcome the additional diversity,” said his Commanding Officer, Lt. Colonel Robert Howieson. “I am very proud to be a member of the Household Division and to be the first Sikh Guardsman to mount guard in a turban will be the best thing in my life, especially as a member of the Scots Guards,” Bhullar said. “The regiment is full of history, as is my religion.”

~ Source: ibnlive.in.com