What is a dhari headdress?
A dhari is a traditional Torres Strait Islander headdress, worn by men during dances and ceremonies. A white dhari appears at the centre of the Torres Strait Islander flag as a symbol of the people.
Dhari, also spelled dari, were traditionally made from feathers, especially those of seabirds such as frigatebirds, fixed to a frame of cane or wood. Today they are often made from cardboard, plastic, feathers and other materials, painted and decorated.
Each island and community may have its own style of dhari. They are worn in dances that tell stories of the sea, the stars, warfare and daily life.
The Torres Strait Islander flag
The flag was designed in 1992 by Bernard Namok from Thursday Island. Green stripes represent the land, black stripes represent the people and the central blue represents the sea.
Beneath the dhari, a five-pointed white star represents the island groups and the importance of navigation by the stars. The flag became an official flag of Australia in 1995, along with the Aboriginal flag.
Torres Strait dance troupes perform at festivals across Australia, and the dhari is worn with pride at events such as the Coming of the Light celebrations held each July.
Did You Know?
The Coming of the Light marks the arrival of Christian missionaries in the Torres Strait on 1 July 1871.