Tête-à-tête with an ace turban maker

Rajamahendravaram: Turban (talapaga) is a common attire used in various functions, weddings, political meetings and also seen worn by farmers. Many great personalities also used to wear turbans and moreover, the kings and emperors like Sri Krishnadevaraya used to wear a variety of turbans in his days as well.

K Kasulu of the historical city has been making various varieties of turbans for three-and-a-half decades now. Many of the turbans used in Saibaba temples and also sported by political bigwigs at the time of their party meetings.

Speaking to ‘The Hans India’, the turban maker, K Kasulu said that tastes of people are changing by the day and they are giving orders of various styles which suits their attiers. The cost of the turbans ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000 basing on its design. It took him five years to learn how to make turbans, he said.

Jeelugubendu, which is available in tanks and sponge are used in making the turbans. “Velvet, cotton, Benaras textiles etc are used in the making of these turbans as per the interest of respective customers. An amount of Rs 1,000 will be spent to decorate the turban with rolled gold ornaments,” he added.

Recently two turbans were sent to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Slowly, the usage of colorful turbans was increasing among the people. They feel that wearing a turban gives glow to the face, he said.

Plans are afoot to make a beautiful turban for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi while trying to improve the business, Kasulu concluded.