Overview of Punjabi culture
The Sate of Punjab is known as the Land of the five Rivers. The word Punjab is combination of two different words Punj+Ab. Punj means five and ab means rivers. There are Five Rivers in Punjab i.e Jhelum river, Chenab river, Sutlej river, Beas river,Ravi river. These five rivers divide the state into three regions:Majha,Doaba and Malwa.
Punjab enjoys the natural benefits and fertile soil the cultivation.Punjab is the oldest cultivation on the earth and with its distinguished language, culture,food,attire,script,folklore,people,etc. Punjabi language has its originating source in Sanskrit(not Hindi or Urdu as many young Indian Pakistans believe),i.e. the family of Indo-Eurpean groupof languages which includes persian and Latin. Punjab has always been land of great saints and fighters.
Tourist Places
Punjab is famous for its religious diversity as it was here many religious movements were initiated .The scenic landscape,rich history and famous religious sites are the most important reasons for increasing number of visits by toursits .Here are the top places to visit in Punjab:-
Amritsar, city, northern Punjab state, northwestern India. It lies about 15 miles (25 km) east of the border with Pakistan. Amritsar is the largest and most important city in Punjab and is a major commercial, cultural, and transportation centre. It is also the centre of Sikhism and the site of the Sikhs’ principal place of worship—the Harmandir Sahib, or Golden Temple.
Read more.....https://punjabculture03.blogspot.com/2019/05/history-and-tourist-places-in.html
Read more.....https://punjabculture03.blogspot.com/2019/05/history-and-tourist-places-in.html
Jalandhar is a city in the north Indian state of Punjab formarly referred to as Jullundar. Jalandhar lies alongside the Grand Trunk Road and is a well-connected rail and road junction. Jalandhar is 144 km northwest of Chandigarh, the state capital of Punjab and Haryana.
Ludhiana:
Name Foundation: Ludhiana or Lodiana, is called after the Lodis, which dynasty ruled at Delhi from A.D. 1451 to1526. The Two Lodi Chief, Yusaf khan and Nihang Khan, deputed by Sikandar Lodi (A.D.1489-1517) to restore order in the region, fixed head-quarters on the present location of Ludhiana city, which was at the time on more than a village called Mir Hota. Legend has it that Yusaf crossed the Satluj to check the Khokhars, who were then plundering the Jalandhar Doab, and settled at Sultanpur; Nihang Khan remained at Mir Hota as the Emperors lieutenant and called the place Ludhiana.
Patiala :
The cultural heritage of this city is rich and beautiful. The food of Punjab is loved all over the world, Makke Di Roti and Sarson Da Saag is the favourite of every household in winters and the food served on the highway Dhabas and street food is lip smacking. Bhangra is the famous dance form here and it is now the universal form of celebration. The handicrafts of Patiala are intricate and beautiful like the Phulkari embroidery. Also, Juttis, a traditional footwear, the Patiala Turban and the Patiala salwar are known for their comfort and style statement.
Bathinda:
Bathinda or Bhatinda (Punjabi: ਬਠਿੰਡਾ), named after the Bhati Rajput kings, is one of the oldest cities in Punjab, India and the current administrative headquarters of Bathinda District. It is situated in north-western India in the Malwa (Punjab) Region, 225 km west of the capital city of Chandigarh. Bathinda is nicknamed the city of Lakes and was once known as Tabar-e-Hind(or Tabarhindh), meaning the Gateway to India. The first empress of India, Razia Sultan was imprisoned in the Qila Mubarak fort in Bathinda.
Pathankot:
Pathankot is a city in the Punjab state of India. Pathankot district is a border district which shares international border with Pakistan on its West. Pathankot was officially declared as District of Punjab state on 27 July 2011 (Previously it was a Tehsil of Gurdaspur district, Punjab). Pathankot district is at the meeting point of the three northern states of India — Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Due to its location, Pathankot serves as a travel hub for those three northerly states.
Kapurthala:
Kapurthala is a city in Punjab state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Kapurthala District. It was the capital of the Kapurthala State (ruled by Ahluwalia Dynasty), a princely state in British India. The secular and aesthetic mix of the city with its prominent buildings based on French and Indo-Saracenic architecture self-narrate its princely past. It is also known as city of Palaces & Gardens. According to the 2011 Census, Kapurthala is the least populated city in India.
Ropar:
Rupnagar (formerly known as Ropar or Rupar) is a city and a municipal council in Rupnagar district in the Indian state of Punjab. Rupnagar is a newly created fifth Divisional Headquarters of Punjab comprising Rupnagar, Mohali, and its adjoining districts. It is also one of the bigger sites belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. Rupnagar is nearly 43 km (27 mi) to the northwest of Chandigarh (the nearest airport and the capital of Punjab). It is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to the north and Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar district (formerly known as Nawanshahr district) to its west.
There are many historical and religious places in Rupnagar, including gurdwaras such as Gurudwara Bhhatha Sahib and Gurudwara Tibbi Sahib.
Sirhind:
Sirhind is the older and more popular name of Fatehgarh Sahib. It is situated on the Delhi to Lahore Highway. It has a population of about 60,852. It is now a district headquarters in the state of Punjab; the name of the district is Fatehgarh Sahib.
Cuisine Of Punjab
– The cuisine of Punjab has great variety of mouth-watering vegetarian as well as non vegetarian dishes. In Punjab, home cooking is different from the restaurant cooking style. At the restaurants use desi ghee, butter and cream to make the food lip smacking and finger licking. On the other hand, at home, people prefer using sunflower oil or some other refined oil for cooking, with the basic idea of making the food low in fat content. The main Traditional Punjabi food are - Sarson ka saag, Shahi paneer, Dal makhni, Rajma, Chole, Aloo, Chicken karahi, Chicken Tandori, makki di Roti, Naan, Phulka, Puri, Papad, Lassi, Kheer, rabri.
Culture and Tradition of Punjab
– The culture of Punjab is the richest culture in the world. Punjabi songs are full of melody and energy. The dance styles of Punjab has more flavor with its bhangra, giddha, kikli and sammi.Bhangra" is one of the most famous dance forms of Punjab. With the loud drumming of the dholak, people dance with zeal to the tunes of the music. "Giddha" is another important variant of dance practiced by Punjabi women. Bolis are lyrically sung and danced by women. Other popular dance forms are Jhumar, Dhankara and Gatka. Irrespective of age or religion, Punjabis love to dance and enjoy themselves to mark festivity. Folk music is the soul of Punjabi culture. Folk music comprises of simple musical instruments like dholak and dhol drum. Punjabi music relates to the zestful people of Punjab.. Boliyas are sung and music is played in tune with the lyrics.
The traditional dress of people is Kurta-pyjama with turban for men. Women prefer Patiala suits as part of their traditional attire. There is a riot of colors in the pagdi-turban and phulkari dupattas, that comes out during the Baisakhi festival. The traditional dress of the Punjabis comprising of the salwar-kameez for women and lehenga-kurta with a waistcoast has many colors and styling. Turban styles can be explored and is compulsory for all Sikhs.
Art and craft of Punjab
- Punjabis are renowned for their utmost interest in arts and crafts. Many phrases have decorative designs and handicrafts. Women used to weave woolen attire for everybody in the family. "Phulkari" is recognized worldwide for its intricate work. Shawls in silk are carefully hand-woven using traditional motifs as designs. Other famous crafts of the region include lacquer work, wooden work, Calico painting, paper mache` and many more. Wooden furniture is beautifully crafted by artisans with exquisite craftsmanship.
