Folks of Punjab:

Punjabi folk is so rich, so varied and so versatile that even common man feels it-s charm. The style of Punjabi dances range from very high energy to slow and reserved, and there are specific styles for men and women. Some of the dances are secular while others are presented in religious contexts. The dances are typically performed at times of celebration, such as Punjabi weddings. With the drum beat or to the tune of some other instrument of folk music, the energetic feet of the people of Punjab are spontaneously set in to give birth to a folk dance - an expression of the soul triumphant, an outburst of emotions.

Punjabi folk songs are varied and colorful. The entire Punjabi culture, so to speak, is reflected in them. They whirl round and round bending and straightening their bodies alternatively, hopping on one leg, raising their hands, clapping with their handkerchiefs and exclaiming Bale Bale! Oh Bale Bale to inspire themselves and others to the abandon of the dance.

Bhangra

Bhangra (folk dance) actions and movements are full of energy and happiness as well as being highly methodical. Bhangra has its own distinctive costumes and instruments. Bhangra is not only exuberant in sound, but also in colour. The Bhangra dress reflects the Punjabi love for bright colours, a sign of happiness. The Bhangra dress is derived from typical daily wear, so it varies depending on which region of the Punjab you are in. Bhangra costumes include Turla - a fan like adornment on the turban, displaying a sign of pride, Pag - a turban, displaying a sign of honour, Kaintha - a type of necklace, Kurta - a loose shirt, Jughi - a waistcoat, Thamba - a rectanglular cloth which goes around the legs and is tied around the waist, all of which are worn with Khussa - shoes.

Gidda

Women have a different but no less exuberant dance called gidda (folk dance). Punjabi women reveal joy, give vent to their suppressed feelings in a male dominated society through the Giddha. Slogans known as bolis are sung while dancing which exhibit the deep human feeling.

So let's watch the video below showing bhangra performing by both girls and boys.......

Gems of Punjab

The golden period of Punjabi literature begins with the first Sikh guru Nanak Sahib and continued until the last Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. Modern Punjabi literature begins with the work of Bhai Vir Singh, who is described as the ‘Father of Modern Punjabi Literature’. Let me tell you something about most famous and worldwide poets and writers. 

Amrita Pritam

Amrita Pritam: She is one of the most celebrated poets of Punjabi literature. She embodied the fullness of poetic expression, creativity and the intensity of a woman in the perpetual state of love. Yet her audience has been global as well: her work was translated into dozens of world languages. One of her poems makes the following confession:

“Today I have erased the number of my house

And removed the stain of identity on my street’s forehead

And I have wiped the direction on each road

But if you really want to meet me

Then knock at the doors of every country

Every city, every street

And wherever a glimpse of a free spirit exists

That will be my home”  Read more….

Watch the interview of Amrita Pritam in the below video:

Waris Shah: A tribute to Waris Shah by Amrita Pritam    

From Aj Aakhan Waris Shah Nu:

"I say to Waris Shah today, speak from your grave

And add a new page to your book of love

Once one daughter of Punjab wept, and you wrote your long saga;

Today thousands weep, calling to you Waris Shah:

Arise, o friend of the afflicted; arise and see the state of Punjab,

Corpses strewn on fields, and the Chenaab flowing with much blood.

Someone filled the five rivers with poison,

And this same water now irrigates our soil......"

Waris Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, best-known for his seminal work Heer Ranjha, based on the traditional folk tale of Heer and her lover Ranjha. Waris Shah also sublimated his own unrequited love for a girl (Bhag Bhari) in writing romance.

Khushwant Singh

Khuswant Singh: Khushwant Singh is many things to many people. More you read about him, hungrier you get. He is the high priest of journalism and can be said to be India's best. he is a free thinker and an international celebrity. Khushwant Singh had become a legend and an icon in his lifetime. He is a lawyer, critic and columnist. He is a prolific writer and historian. He is a man people love to hate and may even agree "Not a nice man to know". Yet, you would love to read him day after day to no end. Singh's weekly column, "with Malice towards One and All", carried by several Indian newspapers, is among the most widely-read columns in the country. Read more....
(All the pics in my blog have been taken from google and other sources)


 

Immortalized - The mortal love

Punjab has produced great love legends which are liked by Punjabis with great respect. Love dominates Punjabi literature, movies, songs and art. There are four popular tragic romances of the Punjab: Heer Ranjha, Mirza Sahiba, Sassi Punnun, and Sohni Mahiwal.

Heer Ranjha, Sassi Punnu and Mirza

                                                      

These folktales immortalize and enshrine mortal love as the spirit of divine love. The poet Waris Shah, who versified the tale of Heer Ranjha, elevated mortal love to the same level as spiritual love for God. The tales also portray a double standard of moral and social convictions and the supremacy of love and loyalty. The protagonists are punished with death for flouting social conventions and disobeying their parents, yet their deaths are glorified and offerings are made at their tombs by those who seek blessings and redemption from suffering and unfulfilled desires. Read more… 

Reaching Out Globally

Today, punjabi is the sixth largest spoken language after English, French, Chinese, Italian and German. Punjabi is set to become the fourth largest spoken language in Canada. In British Columbia province, Punjabi is taught in the University Of British Columbia (UBC). Statistics from the Office for National Statistics estimate that there are approaching nearly a million people of Punjabi origin in Britain. Punjabi is this country's second language.

Town of England

The difference between the number of Punjabi speakers and those of German and Italian is very small. By the next census of 2011, Punjabi will overtake both to occupy the fourth place. "More than 150 million people in 150 countries speak this language. Mini Punjabs in Canada, the US, the UK, Pakistan, Australia and Singapore are testaments to it," he said. Hospitals, city halls, airports and markets carry Punjabi signs. Like here's a picture of billboard of Southall - a town in England. It has been written in punjabi because the town has one of the largest concentrations of South Asian people outside of the Indian sub-continent. 

Large number of Indians in London

And it is common see the Punjabi sign of Aseen Punjabi Bolde Haan (We speak Punjabi) at banks. Guidelines on provincial issues – elections, health, old age and education – come out in Punjabi, as do government bills and notices. You can see the another picture of London where you will find thousands of Indian faces.

Watch the video showing that not only Indians but foreigners also learn to dance on the tune of Punjab. The girls are trying to do Punjabi steps. Punjabi culture, Punjabi movies, Punjabi dance, Punjabi language is now appreciated worldwide.

Wealthiest State

Punjab, the richest state in India that throbs with the vibrant culture of equally vibrant people, has always moved on the path of prosperity despite all odds. A state where dreams of moving with the times have blossomed among the lush green fields and fertile soil. With its inimitable style of transforming every potential opportunity into a success story through enterprise and endeavor Punjab has always been at the forefront in the development story of India. Punjab – The Food basket and Granary of India", has been awarded National Productivity Award for agriculture extension services for consecutively ten years.

Punjab has been declared one of the best States in India in terms of rail, road and transport network. Ludhiana (Punjab) has been adjudged as the best place for doing business in India. Punjab is already home to many large Indian Companies & MNCs like Ranbaxy, Hero Group, Avon Cycles etc.

The Punjab Agricultural University situated in Ludhiana, has brought about a real revolution in farming techniques and has contributed to increased agriculture production and improvement of the cultivators' economic status. This institution has developed high yielding varieties of wheat, rice, bajra and other crops which has spearheaded Punjab to make the state and the country self sufficient for many key crops. Read More... Watch the video below: 

In the above video you can see the lush and green fields of Punjab.