Kalaghai

Traditional art and symbolism of Kelaghayi, making and wearing women’s silk headscarves
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Azerbaijani girl wearing kalaghai
Country	Azerbaijan
Reference	669
Region	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	2014 (9th session)

A kalaghai (Azerbaijani: Kəlağayı) is a traditional Azerbaijani women's headgear. In November 2014 at the 9th session of UNESCO's traditional art and symbolism of Kelaghayi, its production and the wearing were included in the list of intangible cultural heritage UNESCO.

A kalaghai is one of the spread types of headdress. It is essentially a silk headscarf. There were age and social differences in its wearing: older women wore kalaghais of darker colours, mostly black and dark blue, whereas younger women opted for brighter ones, such as white, beige, bright blue, etc. A kalaghai was tied in various ways, depending on the region.

Kalaghais of colorful tints were the most popular. In some places, a kalaghai was tied over a triangular headscarf after collecting hair with a piece of gauze. As a result, there would be three headdresses worn simultaneously: first, the juna (gauze), then the kalaghai and finally a triangular headscarf called kasaba, sarandaz, or zarbab.

In cold weather women covered their heads also with a shawl (tirma-shawl, Kashmir shawl, or shawls knitted of natural wool).