Ghazis (North West Frontier) - help required!

[chicklewis]

I would be interested in what the friendly grognards on the Colonialwars Yahoo group would say to answer this question.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ColonialWars/conversations/messages

[ecwcaptain]

Sparrow,

Besides colonial gaming being my number one period (next to ECW), and specifically the NWF, I'll chime in here, though late to the party!

As Mad Guru pointed out (and beat me to it), Ghazi's would be in white, as the sign of "purity". That said, what I've done for the Indian Mutiny period, is add a bit of color by a green sash for some figures (given the "green" being for jihad) or (very uncommonly) a green turban. I also did that for the NWF period as well, but even more uncommonly.

With regard to flags/standards, I go with a green background for Ghazi units (when such are used).

You can see some of my figures in the couple WI mag articles I've done thus far on the NWF, as examples (I'm sure a Ghazi unit was shown somewhere).

Have fun painting!

Regards,
Bob Giglio

[Sparrow]

Thanks Bob - much appreciated!

[Leigh Metford]

A green turban was (and is) only permitted to hajis; that is, those who have completed the pilgrimage to Mecca.   

[Sparrow]

Leigh  - thanks. An interesting extra piece of detail. Hugely appreciated - Ian

[Atheling]

A green turban was (and is) only permitted to hajis; that is, those who have completed the pilgrimage to Mecca.   

I wasn't aware of that either so many thanks- do you know if this is still the case today?

Darrell.

[dragonwagon]

he Ottoman Empires point of view Ghazis were holy warriors sent into difficult situations in order to soften up the enemy and or gain paradise in fighting the infidel.  They weren't in any way a special unit of the army bu individual volunteers.  They wore white robes with color patches sewn on and sometimes green or red turbans.  Their banners were predominantly green or black with writings from the Koran on them.  They were considered holy and/or mad because the prayed aloud or gibbered as they went into battle!