Heroic Sikh men ignore their strict religious protocol by saving 4 teenagers from drowning with their turbans

The turban is a hugely important religious symbol in Sikhism - and removing it for any reason is not an easy decision. But two Sikh men put aside their strict religious protocol to save four drowning teenagers, using their turbans as ropes to pull them to safety.

The four teenagers had got into trouble after they entered the water for the immersion of the Ganesha idols at Salur Ghat, India.

But moments after stepping into the water they had lost their footing and had been swept away by the strong current.

Inderpal Singh spotted the boys in trouble as he sat on a nearby embankment, watching the immersion.

After hearing their cries for help, he immediately tossed one end of his turban into the water for the boys to grab hold of.

He told New Delhi TV: "I had no time to think and quickly removed my turban and threw it at the drowning boys and pulled them in."

A second man, Kanwalijit sat close by on another bank and immediately followed suit.

He added: "My immediate reaction was to jump into the canal and try to save them, but I cannot swim .

"So I removed my turban and used it to save the boys."