A perak is a headdress typically worn by the old aristocracy in the Himalayan Ladakh region of Asia. It is composed of a strap of leather studded with semi-precious stones, such as

lapis lazuli Lapis lazuli (; ), or lapis for short, is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color. As early as the 7th millennium BC, lapis lazuli was mined in the Sar-i Sang mines, ...

and turquoise.

Symbolism

The ''perak'' is a symbol among the Ladakh of the rank and economic status of the woman wearing it.Aggarwal, Ravina. (2005). "The Turquoise Headdress of Ladakh." In ''Ladakh: Culture at the Crossroads''. Edited by Monisha Ahmed and Clare Harris. Mumbai: Marg Publications, 56-65. Traditionally, the number of front-to-back rows of turquoise signified the status of the wearer: nine rows for the queen of

Leh Leh () ( lbj, ) is the joint capital and largest city of Ladakh, a union territory of India. Leh, located in the Leh district, was also the historical capital of the Kingdom of Ladakh, the seat of which was in the Leh Palace, the former res ...

(the Ladakh capital), seven rows for the more modern aristocracy, five for the ''marvels'', and three for the lower ranks. The jewels themselves are representative of the Ladakh deities, protecting and guiding the wearer through the dangerous human world.

External links

Perak headdress at the Victoria and Albert museum

Stock photo of two women wearing perak headdresses

Flickr image of woman from Wakha village wearing a perak

Image of an old perak from Ladakh or Zanskar

References

Headgear {{clothing-stub