Bandari women of Iran's Hormozagan province wearing traditional Bandari face coverings referred to as Bandari Burkas - Via Rodolfo Contreras
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The people of Hormozagan province on Iran’s southern coast are known as Bandari (Port People). Once an essential stop on the Spice Route, the area has been a center for trading since around BC2000, resulting in a jumble of ethnicities and cultures, including African, Arab, Indian and Persian. Most locals wear different attire from other provinces of Iran, with women often sporting colorful dresses instead of the typical black chador and men in Arab-style clothing. But the boregheh (masks) worn by many Bandari women, both Sunni and Shia, are probably the most striking of all.
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Bandari women have been wearing masks for centuries. The roots of the tradition are unknown, although some say that it started during Portuguese rule when women were trying to avoid recognition by slave masters looking for pretty girls.
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As well as being part of their religion and culture, the masks also protect the eyes and skin from the sun, which can be very strong in the Persian Gulf. Similar covers can be found around the region, in Oman, Kuwait and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
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Many kinds of masks can be seen across the province. Some cover nearly the whole face, while others are smaller and reveal more of the eye area. Some are made of leather, while others are heavily embroidered fabric. All of them at least partly cover the forehead and nose, and a veil is often used to cover the mouth and head. Local people can recognize a woman's village, status or origins by the shape and color of her mask.
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The mask in the last image, a striking mustache-shaped mask mainly worn by women in the villages on Qeshm Island, is said to have been designed centuries ago to make local women look tougher. The island’s strategic position made it very susceptible to invasion; when enemies saw the masked figures, they thought they were male soldiers.