Wmltusa at 11:29, 9 November 2025

2025-11-09T11:29:41Z

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{{short description|Traditional headdress}}
[[File:Ved_Prakash_-_Solang_Valley_2014-05-10_2547.JPG|right|thumb|A man in [[Kullu]], wearing a traditional Himachali cap.]]
'''Himachali cap''' (Bushehri topi, Pahari topi, Kinnauri topi) is a distinctive [[Headgear|headdress]] associated with [[Himachal Pradesh#Culture|Himachal Pradesh's culture]]. It is a part of the traditional dress of many [[Western Pahari|Pahari]] inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Broadcasting|first=India Ministry of Information and|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T5GpmoJ3BBIC|title=Himachal Pradesh|date=1956|publisher=Tourist Division, Ministry of Transport|isbn=978-81-7199-465-6|location=|pages=22|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Shaikh|first=Ameen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=32YHEAAAQBAJ|title=ShaikhSpear in Himachal|date=2019-04-01|publisher=Mountain Walker Private Limited|isbn=978-81-940505-0-6|location=|pages=173|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Himachali Cap (Topi) -Buy Kullu, Shimla, Kinnauri and Malana Cap|url=https://himalayankraft.in/product-tag/himachali-cap-topi/|access-date=2021-01-16|website=HimalayanKraft|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Himachali cap - Culture, legacy and heritage Issues and analysis @ abhipedia Powered by ABHIMANU IAS|url=https://abhipedia.abhimanu.com/Article/State/MTE5OTg4/The-Himachali-cap---Culture--legacy-and-heritage-Himachal-Pradesh-State|access-date=2021-01-16|website=abhipedia.abhimanu.com|language=en-us}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Stamp of India - 2017 - Colnect 753869 - Himachali Cap.jpeg|200px|left|thumb|2017 Indian stamp depicting the cap]]
The Himachali cap is historically related to [[Kinnaur district|Kinnaur]] that was formerly part of the Bushahr Kingdom. It reached other parts of [[Himachal Pradesh]] via the [[princely state]] of [[Bushahr]] and [[Kullu]], since Bushahr kingdom traded with many neighboring regions Including Tibet. The weaving style and materials used for these caps differ from each other. Kinnaur's traditional cap also called Thepang, feature two distinct velvet variations: Maroon and green.

== Material and Shape ==
Himachali caps are one of the popular [[arts and crafts of Himachal Pradesh]]. The Himachali cap is usually made of [[wool]], and the shape is typically round or boat shape.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Broadcasting|first=India Ministry of Information and|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T5GpmoJ3BBIC|title=Himachal Pradesh|date=1956|publisher=Tourist Division, Ministry of Transport|isbn=978-81-7199-465-6|location=|pages=128, 129|language=en}}</ref>

== Traditional wear ==
[[File:Kinnauri Nati dance.jpg|thumb|[[Nati (dance)|Nati dance]] being performed with traditional [[Kinnaur district|Kinnauri]] attire]]
The Himachali cap is an ingrained part of daily wear in Himachal, and it is commonly worn during local festivities, religious functions and marriages.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Verma|first=Shruti|date=2018-02-02|title=The Himachali cap: Culture, legacy and heritage|url=http://www.himvani.com/47431/himachali-cap-culture-legacy-heritage/|access-date=2021-01-17|website=HimVani|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Himachali caps are a representation of cultural identity. People in Himachal consider the cap as a point of pride,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wagner|first=Anja|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oWVFAAAAQBAJ|title=The Gaddi Beyond Pastoralism: Making Place in the Indian Himalayas|date=2013-06-01|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=978-0-85745-930-5|location=|pages=34|language=en}}</ref> like a turban for [[Sikhs]] in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]. This topi (Hindi for cap) is a representation of HP’s cultural identity and is considered a symbol of pride for the Himachalis.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Traditional Himachali Caps": A Symbol of Heritage |url=https://holidayshunt.com/traditional-himachali-caps-a-symbol-of-heritage/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=www.holidayshunt.com}}</ref>

=== Political identity ===
{{Quote box
| width = 33%
| align = right
| quoted = 1
| quote = ''I would like to thank Narendra Modi ji for using Himachal’s cap as a crown in Israel''
| salign = right
| source= —[[Prem Kumar Dhumal]] [[tweeter|tweeted]] for [[Narendra Modi]] when he dressed in Himachali cap with a maroon band during his visit to [[Israel]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Gaurav Bisht|date=6 July 2017|title=PM Modi's cap in Israel takes political hue in Himachal|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-s-cap-in-israel-takes-political-hue-in-himachal/story-JJH2Dk9H1LQ1xPF2m3hFiM.html|url-status=live|access-date=12 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313092408/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-s-cap-in-israel-takes-political-hue-in-himachal/story-JJH2Dk9H1LQ1xPF2m3hFiM.html|archive-date=13 March 2018}}</ref>
}}

The colour of the Himachali caps has been an indicator of political loyalties in the hill state for a long period of time with [[Indian National Congress|Congress party]] leaders like [[Virbhadra Singh]] donning caps with green band and the rival [[BJP]] leader [[Prem Kumar Dhumal]] wearing a cap with maroon band.<ref>{{Cite news|last=IANS|date=2017-10-29|title=War of caps: State which flaunts political loyalty on its head (Himachal Polls)|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/war-of-caps-state-which-flaunts-political-loyalty-on-its-head-himachal-polls-117102900333_1.html|access-date=2021-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=SHARMA|first=NIDHI|title=In Himachal Pradesh, it is maroon for BJP and green for Congress|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/in-himachal-pradesh-it-is-maroon-for-bjp-and-green-for-congress/articleshow/61499068.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2021-05-25}}</ref><ref name="caphp">{{cite news|author=Archana Phull|date=14 January 2018|title=Cap likely on 'cap politics' in Himachal Pradesh|newspaper=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/cap-likely-cap-politics-himachal-pradesh-1502563887.html|url-status=live|access-date=12 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313092147/https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/cap-likely-cap-politics-himachal-pradesh-1502563887.html|archive-date=13 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-07-08|title=Cap's colour denotes political leanings!|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/cap-s-colour-denotes-political-leanings/story-2eBpJ0rkKClYgUfQxUz8lM.html|access-date=2021-05-25|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-29|title=As BJP-Congress battle heats up in Himachal Pradesh, people flaunt their political 'colours' on their headgear|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/as-bjp-congress-battle-heats-up-in-himachal-pradesh-people-flaunt-their-political-colours-on-their-headgear-4182533.html|access-date=2021-05-25|website=Firstpost}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|title=Short film ‘... Kissa Topi Ka’ has message for voters|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/himachal/short-film-kissa-topi-ka-has-message-for-voters-456467|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-13|title=Himachal topi leaves Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh fuming at function|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/himachal-topi-leaves-chief-minister-virbhadra-singh-fuming-at-function-4842258/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="nolines">
File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi dedicates to the nation the World’s longest Highway tunnel - Atal Tunnel, in Manali, Himachal Pradesh on October 03, 2020 (7).jpg|[[Narendra Modi]] in Himachali cap
File:Prem Kumar Dhumal.jpg|[[Prem Kumar Dhumal]] in Himachali cap.
File:Virbhadra Singh HP.jpg|[[Virbhadra Singh]] in Himachali cap.
File:JRThakur.jpg|[[Jai Ram Thakur]] in Himachali cap.
File:Himachali Caps (87069779).jpeg|Himachali Caps
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[List of hat styles]]
* [[Himachal Pradesh]]
* [[Rampur chaddar]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Indian headgear]]
[[Category:Culture of Himachal Pradesh]]

{{clothing-stub}}

Himachali cap - Revision history

Wmltusa at 11:29, 9 November 2025