Shikha
The tuft or lock of hair left at the crown of a shaved head by many Hindu men, especially priests.
Also: choti, chuda, kudumi
A shikha is a lock of hair kept long at the crown or back of the head while the rest is shaved or cut short. It is traditional among Hindu priests and many devout Hindu men, and is often kept after the mundan. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala it was called kudumi, sometimes worn at the front, and in the north it is often called choti. The shikha is tied in a knot and is seen as a mark of faith and learning.