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{{p|File:Boy wearing patka sq.jpg|A young Sikh boy wearing a Patka}}

A '''Patka''' is a [[Sikh]] head covering which is worn by many Sikh children in preference to its 'bigger brother' the [[turban]]. When the length and volume of the uncut hair on the head ([[kesh]]) gets to a stage where the management of the hair is tricky, the patka is worn to keep the [[kesh]] tidy and clean; this garment is basically a small piece of cloth which is tied around the head to cover the hair and keep it in a neat and tidy state. The cloth can be of any colour and material; the preferred colours are black, red and blue and cotton material is preferred.   

The Patka is also worn by many adult Sikhs as an under-turban as well, just as we use other underwear of different colours. This under-turban may be kept at bed-time as well, when the turban proper is taken off. similarly, during swimming and sports, the turban is replaced by a small scarf-sized cloth called  the 'Patka'. This is knotted at the top to keep the hair intact.

In fact Patka is more popular with young Sikhs at school. The patka is a simple cloth head covering, consisting of about two square feet of fabric with strings to secure it. The patka is usually worn by Sikh youths, or in the place of a [[turban]] by less traditional adult Sikhs. 

==Styles of wearing Patka==

There are basically three styles of wearing Patka:

1) to cover head and to tie knot (traditional style, used by Sikh children and sport persons)
2) to cover head and leave the cloth behind (Commondos, sports persons)
3) to cover head and to cover knot with cloth (Sikh children and Youth too)

==See also==

* [[Turban]]
* [[Keski]]
* [[Kesh]]
* [[5Ks]]
{{Turban}}
[[Category:Turban]]