Bandana (Hindi: बंधन bandhana – “to bond”) refers to a large kerchief made of silk or cotton that originated in India. Traditionally, bandanas were crafted from multi-colored fabric with various patterns. They can be worn in different ways, such as around the forehead, neck, wrist, or even tucked into jeans.
Bandanas initially served a practical purpose. They were used by Spanish vaqueros and later adopted by American cowboys as protection against dust. When worn around the neck, cowboys could quickly pull up the bandana to cover their nose and mouth, shielding themselves from clouds of dust stirred up by cattle during their rides.
