Punjab is a region of five rivers in North West India and North East Pakistan. Punj means five and Ab means water, while Punjab means five waters. The names of these five rivers are Beas, Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum.
Beas and Sutlej. These five rivers divide the state into three regions namely Madha, Doaba and Malwa. Punjab enjoys natural advantages and fertile soil which leads to good cultivation.
Punjab is the oldest agricultural land on earth and has a distinctive language, culture, food, dress, script, folklore, people etc. The Punjabi language has its roots in Sanskrit (not Hindi or Urdu as many young Indian Pakistanis believe), i.e. the Indo-European family of Persian and Latin languages. Punjab has always been the land of great saints and warriors.
Punjab is the epitome of life in Pakistan as it is the most populous province in the country. Punjabi lifestyle and customs are very rich which follow centuries old culture. It is rich in literature, cuisine, art, tradition, architecture, military warfare and spoken languages.
People from Punjabi region or living in Punjab province are considered as Punjabis. Anyone who speaks Punjabi is also considered a Punjabi. The language is spoken all over the world and is among the most spoken languages in the world as it has 100-150 million speakers. Punjabi is the fourth most spoken language in Canada .
Punjabi culture is now so strong that it has spread like a religion. This culture was very limited and its sects, communities etc. were ignored but today the situation is reversed. One thing that Punjabis are famous for is that they are funny and loving. They love to celebrate traditions and festivals.
One of the most famous traditions of the Punjabi people is “Bhangra” which is now becoming a part of the mainstream music industry. Music beats and dance steps have made a name for themselves. There are many other types of dances that have emerged in Punjabi and all these dances have their own origin story, some religious and some non-religious.
Some famous dances are; Dankara, Sammi Dhamaal, Ludhi and Bhangra. They perform this dance on every occasion and festival. They like to celebrate all the festivals but the most favorite festival is Basant which is celebrated with enthusiasm and enthusiasm.
Their most popular dish is tandoori chicken. Punjabi cuisine has a variety of famous foods and dishes. Every other country has Punjabi cuisine shops. Spices, lots of oil, ghee, butter make their dishes mouth watering and smell good.
Moreover, their costumes are very colorful and indicative of a bright and vibrant culture. Their clothes are comfortable and beautiful. They use phulkari embroidery on their costumes.
Most of the male villagers wear turban known as pagdi and dhoti or lacha, khusa, kurta while women villagers wear choridar pajama or gharara, colorful sharlwar kameez, khusa, paranda, choli or dupatta, lola puri chappal. But, the urban areas of Punjab follow the latest trends and fashions, their normal routine wear is usually salwar kameez.
Punjabi people are crazy about sports like kabaddi or wrestling. His games are famous in many parts of the country. Their sports are of great importance at the national level. Some of the simple traditional games that all Punjabi residents love to play are khu-khu, gili-danda, ludo, chuppan-chappai, yasu panju, kachey and baraf pani etc.
A special festival is celebrated in Lahore which is the national horse and cattle show. It is the biggest festival where exhibitions, games and livestock competitions are held.
tourist spots
– Punjab is the seat of Sikh religion. The holiest of Sikh temples, Sri Harmandir Sahib (or Golden Temple), is located in the city of Amritsar. Of the five Takhts (temporary seats of religious authority) of Sikhism, three are in Punjab.
These are Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Damdama Sahib and Anandpur Sahib. Punjab is one of the leading states in India in terms of infrastructure. It is also known for its sports and hosiery industry.
Enjoy the unmatched hospitality and warmth of the locals. Some of the major tourist attractions in Punjab are: Amritsar- Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah Border, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, Patiala – Sheesh Mahal, Quila Mubrak, Moti Bagh Palace, Kali Devi Temple, Chandigarh- Sikh Ajayabghar, Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden, Rose Garden etc.
Cuisine of Punjab
– Punjabi cuisine has a variety of mouth-watering vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes. In Punjab, home cooking is different from restaurant style of cooking. Desi restaurants use ghee, butter and cream for lip smacking and finger licking food. On the other hand, at home, people prefer to use sunflower oil or some other refined oil for cooking, with the basic idea of reducing the amount of fat in food. The main traditional Punjabi foods are – Sarson Ka Saag, Shahi Paneer, Dal Makhani, Rajma, Chole, Aloo, Chicken Karhi, Chicken Tandoori, Makki Di Roti, Naan, Phulka, Puri, Papad, Lassi, Kheer, Rabdi.
Culture and Traditions of Punjab
– The culture of Punjab is the richest culture in the world. Punjabi songs are melodious and full of energy. Punjabi dance styles have more flavor with its Bhangra, Gidha, Kikli and Sammi.
Bhangra is one of the most famous dance forms of Punjab. To the loud sound of drummers, people dance enthusiastically to the tunes of the music. “Gidha” is another important form of dance performed by Punjabi women.
Bolis women sing songs and dance. Other popular dance forms are Jhumar, Dhankara and Gatka. Regardless of age or religion, Punjabis love to dance and enjoy themselves to celebrate. Folk music is the soul of Punjabi culture. Folk music consists of simple instruments like dholak and dhol drum.
Punjabi music belongs to the energetic people of Punjab. Lyrics are sung and music is played to the tune of the lyrics. Punjabi wedding songs range from emotional interludes to super-cheerful beats where the bride and groom are in constant frenzy. Enjoying wedding songs requires a sense of humor.
The traditional dress of the people is kurta-pyjama and turban for men. Women prefer Patiala suits as part of their traditional attire. Turbans and turbans and Phulkari dupattas are bursting with colors during the festival of Baisakhi.
The traditional attire of the Punjabi people consists of salwar-kameez and waisted lehenga-kurta for women in many colors and styles. The turban style can be traced and is mandatory for all Sikhs.
Arts and Crafts of Punjab
– Punjabi people are known to take great interest in their arts and crafts. Many phrases have decorative designs and crafts. Women used to weave woolen clothes for everyone in the family.
“Phulkari” is known worldwide for his intricate work. Silk shawls are carefully hand woven using traditional motifs.
Other famous handicrafts of this region include lacquer work, wood work, calico painting, paper mache and many more. Wooden furniture is beautifully crafted by artisans with exquisite craftsmanship.