Exhibition aims to celebrate the turban's relevance - in pictures

Sikhs at Birmingham Vaisakhi Mela in traditional dress, carrying the Kirpan and the rest of the five K's, worn at all times by baptised Sikhs. The five K's (from Khalsa, referring to the collective body of all baptised Sikhs) are: Kesh (uncut hair), Kara (a steel bracelet), Kanga (a wooden comb), Kaccha, also spelt Kachh and Kachera (cotton underwear) and Kirpan (steel sword) Photograph: Jaskirt Dhaliwal

Young Sikh boys wearing traditional dress and turbans for the Sikh New Year festival of Vaisakhi, annually celebrated with a carnival in Birmingham Photograph: Jaskirt Dhaliwal

Sikh woman with a light blue turban. Sikh equality means women as well as men can wear turbans Photograph: Jaskirt Dhaliwal

Turbanology director, Sky News journalist and independent filmmaker Jay Singh-Sohal-Jay. Like many British Sikhs, Jay wears what has become known as a 'Kenyan' turban, because of its connections to migrant communities from Kenya and Tanzania who wore this style Photograph: Jaskirt Dhaliwal

Young Sikh boy demonstrating the art of Gatka (Sikh martial art), banned by the British during colonial rule Photograph: Jaskirt Dhaliwal

Teenage girl in traditional costume. Sikh equality means women can practise their faith in the same way as men Photograph: Jaskirt Dhaliwal

A traditional Sikh 'warrior' turban, worn by a Gatka demonstrator. Round and strongly supported by several layers, it protects the head in battle and can carry different weapons Photograph: Jaskirt Dhaliwal

A Damalla, a traditional round turban, which has become fashionable among young British Sikhs in places like Birmingham. The symbol worn on the front shows a double-edged sword, representing righteousness and justice, surrounded by a bowl, depicting the free communal kitchen or Langar in Sikh Gurdwaras which is open to all Photograph: Jaskirt Dhaliwal

A traditional Indian-style double Patti turban seen mostly in the Punjab, so called as two separate layers are stitched together to create a cloth that creates a wider turban. In India the colour of this turban is often matched by wearers' shirts, and sometimes socks Photograph: Jaskirt Dhaliwal

A Sikh man with a round Nihang-style turban, affixed with a symbol and prayer beads. UK law protects turban-wearers from discrimination Photograph: Jaskirt Dhaliwal

Maharaja Duleep Singh, was the last Maharaja of the Sikh empire, and is considered the first Sikh in Britain Photograph: Peter Bance