Hair Styling , Culture , and fashion

The following text Hair Styling , Culture , and Fashion is written by Eiluned Edwards and is edited by Geraldine Biddle-Perry and Sarah Cheang . Eiluned Edwards is a reader in global cultures of textiles and dress at Nottingham Trent University . In the following text Edwards how purity and pollution are the key concepts in the orthodox Hindu Schema and also in the history , myths and devotional practices that surround hair in India . She says idea of ritual purity and pollution are exemplified in the social and religious hierarchy of caste which offers a unique insight into the function of barbers many of whom are ritual specialist . Edwards also talks about large number of people donating hair as ritual customs which are later used for making hair extensions . 

Then edwards talks about the relation between myth and social customs in India . Many customs are evolved directly from myths and stories found in each state . Hair removal as prevention or cure is prevalent in different forms throughout India and the barber who caries out this task is versed in a ritual practice . Then she also mentions about a Indian widow dressed in a plain white sari with her hair shaven and with absence of ornaments . 

Hair is a rich source of myth in India where each state and religion has its own stories . And hair plays an important role in Hindu Mythology Mahabharata where draupadi was forcely brought to thr court and she was seen in a single piece of cloth with her hair loose after taking a bath because she was in a menstruating cycle which indicates that a women in her menstruating cycle wasnt allowed to take a bath over head . This myth conveys hindu notion of purity and pollution and uses the medium of hair to convey violation . Edwards also talks about goddess Kali of west bengal how terrifying she is in her dishevelled hair indicating a female shakti . Hair tonsuring is thus carried out at religious sites throughout India but it has reached at industrial scale at the temple of lord Venkateshwara  at Tirumala where thousands of devotees donate hair to the god . But much of this donated hair is exported to Europe and United States where it is transformed into extensions for the stars of fashion , music and film industry which i dont think is the right purpose of it .