What is the white ceremonial headdress on the Torres Strait Islander flag called? The white ceremonial headdress is called a dhari.
The dhari is a traditional Torres Strait Islander headdress associated especially with dance performances and cultural ceremonies. It is often decorated with white feathers and may use materials such as pearl shell, turtle shell or modern substitutes. In the eastern islands, “dhari” is the Meriam Mir word for headdress.
The flag’s white dhari symbolises Torres Strait Islander culture. It sits above the black and blue elements of the design, which represent the people and the sea of the Torres Strait. The flag was designed by Bernard Namok and first presented in 1992 before receiving official recognition in 1995.
A useful linguistic distinction is that “dhoeri” is used in the central and western islands, particularly in Kala Lagaw Ya. Both terms refer to the same cultural form, but dhari is the name used in the flag’s official symbolism and is the canonical answer to this quiz question.