The Way to Heart in Punjab.....

Punjabi culture is one of the most talked about culture which reflects the color and happiness in one. Being born and brought up in Punjab, I am deeply touched by the customs of Punjab. Generations ago, the turban was the “crowning glory” of all Punjabi's whether Muslim, Hindu or Sikh. Muslims and Hindus have given up their turbans, but it remains, as a faith for Sikh men whose religion forbids them to cut their hair. Turban is their pride.

The culture of Punjab, from among the cultures of the world, has its own unique fragrance. It is unmatched. A guest in Punjab is considered as a representative sent by God. Punjab’s villages are really so pious. I usually used to visit to a village in my childhood which was few kms away from my place with my father. I really got impressed from their life styles. My father took me to our driver uncle’s house which was made of mud. When we (me and my father) entered the house, immediately the ladies of the house covered their heads with their dupattas and welcomed us with their folding hands saying “jee aayian nu”. One of the ladies offered us to sit on the beds known locally as “chaar payi.” Later, my father explained me that though these people live in village but the way they treat their guests is incomparable. I remember the lines of gandhiji – India lives in her villages and it’s really true. The land of Punjab is so fertile that it is best suited for growing variety of crops.

The traditional Punjabi juttis retain their popularity with both rural and urban people; they are both elegant and comfortable. Duppatta is very important part of Punjabi girls. Punjab is a wonderful and colorful state in Northern India.  

The typical Punjabi is an extrovert, a sociable fellow who likes to eat well, dress well. Punjabi men would like to twirl their moustache and say "Chardi kala" ("on the up and up") to those who ask how he’s doing.

In below video you can see how graceful and dignified this culture is. Girls or women working with their charkhas and taking swings. It has been shown that on the eve of wedding, a JAGGO procession begins from bridegrooms home and continues throughout the village with song and dance. In vast fields of punjab, two young women are returning from the village well and sharing little joy and secrets of life. Farmers are ploughing the field. You can also enjoy the bhangra. There's no pollution and silence on village roads gives extreme relief  to the minds of people. Have a look into the souls of punjab's: 

Enriched Punjabi Diet

Whenever I sit to read or to write about Punjabi cuisine, it simply tempts me with its taste and smell. In fact, I started imagining having delicious, delightful, and luscious, sarson ka saag, makki ki roti, pickle, salad and definitely one glass of lassi with chunks of white butter floating on top lies in front of me. Every Punjabi loves this combination and wish to have it in their every time meal. It is a special treat for the people living in the northern parts of India. Punjabi dishes are a reservoir of nutrients.  

Punjab is a place where no one goes hungry. Punjabi style of eating originally arises from road side  truck stop dhabhas. The Dhaba moves wherever a Punjabi goes. The British were astonished to see, when they conquered Punjab that in every village there was a special Dera where hospitality was offered to every outsider. Dhabas are where only vegetarian food is cooked in pure ghee or white butter. Actually the thing is if Punjabi’s don’t find butter known locally as desi ghee in their meals for one day, they don’t feel like eating it. The strong built of Punjabi’s is popularly known for this. Dal Makhni, has become world famous and is served in Punjab on all ceremonial occasions. There’s a saying “No one ever goes hungry in the land of Punjab.”

Pranthas, stuffed with vegetables, fried on a pan or baked in the tandoor with milk products, is a daily breakfast for punjabi’s.  I remember my graduation days in Chandigarh where we used to go to dhaba nearby our college in sec-11, the most famous dhaba. Whenever we used to go for an outing we surely went there to have one or two parantha’s with butter on it along with tea. Nothing we found better than this. Chole bhathure was our second preference when we didn’t find parantha’s someday.  

Panjiri, wheat flour fried in sugar and ghee, loaded with dry-fruits. The Bazaars of the towns of Punjab are always loaded with sweets, seasonal fruits and other foodstuffs. Punjabi cuisine can be non-vegetarian or completely vegetarian. Home cooked and restaurant Punjabi cuisine can vary significantly. There are certain exclusive dishes of Punjab, such as Mah Di Dal, Shahi Paneer, Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, Tandoori Fish, Paneer Pakora, Pakoras, Jalebee, Gulab Jaman. Punjabi khana is spicy in taste which provides the rich finishing touch. Taste the taste of punjab through this video:

In the above video, you saw a man tasting the flavors of punjabi food. A delicious lassi with butter, aaloo kulcha with chole and Amritsari papad (most famous one) made on the roofs of the shops. It has been shown how this lassi, kulche and papad are made.

Upcoming Pollywood

Punjabi culture is very prominent in bollywood industry these days. It would not be wrong if I change the word prominent to dominant. Punjab is the biggest market for film producers. Just about every other movie has a Punjabi connection. Thats the grace of our Punjabi culture. Almost all entertaining music of the newest Bollywood films that makes everyone dances to the Punjabi tunes. The Punjabi dance is popular in great number and play in clubs and discos across the country. Number of movies like ‘Love Aaj Kal’, ‘Namaste London’, ‘Jab we Met’, ‘Singh is King’, ‘Rabb Ne Bana di Jodi’, ‘Patiala House’, ‘Amritsar to L.A’, ‘Apne’, ‘Singh is King’, ‘Veer Zara’, were a big hit to the Indian cinema. 

Some Punjabi songs are included in the movie with Bhangra and gidda (folk dance) music to give it a nice, peppy feel and these songs give a big support to the movie itself, as they normally become large hits. The Punjabi theme has gained so much recognition that we usually see big joint families, characters being dressed up in Punjabi salwar kameez, kurta pajamas, Punjabi jutti’s and turban covering their heads and using typical Punjabi tone in dialogues which makes movies remarkable.  Many a times, village scene is shooted for movies to bring the feel in the hearts of the people. The way of living in villages, long green fields, tractors and trucks in fields, farmers ploughing the fields, all these have been depicted in many bollywood movies which look fascinating.

The Punjabi theme appeals to everyone. Today, weddings, college functions, all prefers Punjabi themes to make it lively. Not only bollywood but Hollywood movies can also be seen with Punjabi themes and few famous words of language. In fact, it’s not only in India, but the Bhangra beats and tunes are well known all over the world. It does not matter which country you live in or belong to, if the Bhangra music is playing, the odds are that you would get up and start dancing spontaneously. 

Punjabi Dance is based around happiness and energy. Punjabi culture has had an impact on Hindi movies without doubt. Their vibrant dance and music are definitely really worth trying. Punjabi concept has been very familiar with bollywood movies. The majority of the songs in Hindi movies are mostly from Punjabi albums. They appeal to the audience as they are close to Indian culture being portrayed in bollywood films. A bollywood movie without a Punjabi taste will not have its meant impact. Bhangra songs are really well-liked amongst globally audience and this can be a precise reason why Hindi films are a worldwide popular. You can watch the video:

Everlasting Safari

The cities of Punjab have many places of interest for the tourists and people from all over the world visit these cities. Punjab fulfills all dreams and aspirations of a traveler. While talking about Punjab’s places one never forgets the name of Amritsar - the supreme sacred pilgrimage destination for Sikhism.

Golden Temple

Amritsar: lies in the heart of Punjab where one could see the richness of Punjabi culture, arts and crafts, music and dance. It is the place famous for world’s largest gurudwara of Sikhism – Harmandir sahib popularly known as the Golden Temple. Its dome is covered with 400kg gold. I have a very special moment associated with Amritsar. I went there with my school trip when I was in 3rd standard and was chosen ‘best student of the year.’ I must say the langar(sacred food service, or divine dining) which is served there is so yum that one would literally lick her fingers. If you travel to Punjab then the one place you should never ever miss is the world renowned Golden Temple. Here you can watch the video:

Jallianwala Bagh has a remarked history related to it as one of the most gruesome acts of inhumanity on Indian soil was jallianwala bagh massacre. In 1919, during Indian freedom struggle, thousands of people had lost their lives. The marks of bullet are still there on the walls of it. Wagah border is the land point between India and Pakistan. It has its own symbolic importance.

Rock Garden

Chandigarh: Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab, is the first planned city of india. Chandigarh is like my second home. I spent their three years and it was unforgettable part of my life. The main tourist attractions in Chandigarh are the Punjab university, Sec-17 market, Rose Garden, Sukana lake, Pinjore Gardens, and Rock Garden. Here you can see the rock garden:

If one visits Chandigarh one must have a look of the university. Chandigarh rock garden, full of art objects made, human creativity and innovation. How can one forget sec-17 market and sukhna lake while talking about Chandigarh. These are the two most ultimate places in Chandigarh. Sukhna Lake, the best place I found in chandigarh. During sunset it looks more lavish with lights and water all around. Sec-17, was our pet place to go on an outings. It is the most famous place with an ultimate crowd and where even celebrities don’t forget to come once. Pinjore garden is a fascinating Mughal Garden also known as Yadavindra Gardens.

 

Ludhiana: is famous for its hosiery and woolen goods and products from Ludhiana are exported all over the world. For its production of hosiery, Ludhiana is also known as the Manchester of India. It has famous panjab agricultural university.

Jalandhar: The most ancient cities of Punjab. The most famous places devi talab mandir, rangla Punjab and Jamma Masjid. Rangla Punjab is a Haveli, a traditional Punjabi restaurant following typical Punjabi culture inside it. If you want cheap and best food, you should not miss going there. At evening time you can watch cultural programmes by village women and bhangra by village boys.You can now simply enjoy the visit to Rangla Punjab by sitting here and watch this video:

The Way Through Soul..........

The land of five rivers Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas ans Satluj. Punjab has a rich cultural history of celebrating various festivals and fairs with grandeur and enthusiasm. Festivals in Punjab are famous for its vivacity and color. Festivals are usually held in April and May when the harvest is ripe and ready. People come out to celebrate Baisakhi with zeal and religious fervor. Gurupurab, lohri, Bhaidooj, Basant Panchmi are some of the popular festivals celebrated in Punjab.

Lohri

Lohri: Celebrated on the 13th day of January. In true spirit of the Punjabi culture, men and women perform Bhangra and Giddha, popular Punjabi folk dances, around a bonfire. Enthusiastic children go from house to house singing songs and people oblige them generously by giving them money and eatables as offering for the festival. Lohri is my favorite festival among all. It is the festival of kites also. On this festival, no one bothers about the chilly winter and go on their terraces to fly kites high in the sky. On that day you can see the sky filled with different colors of kites. I never missed this festival till my graduation. From the very morning, I used to go on my terrace with all my kites and thread to fly and catch kites. I never got tired till evening and my mom literally screamed to get down. Late in the evening, people gather around the bonfire and throw sweets (gachak and rewri), puffed rice and popcorn (as holy offering) into it and sing folk songs. Lohri is also an auspicious occasion to celebrate a newly born baby’s or a new bride’s arrival in the family. You can watch the video:

Baisakhi: Celebrated on the first day of the month of Baisakh (April/May). This is the New Year’s Day, going by the Saka calendar. Essentially, a North Indian harvest festival, it is the time for the reaping of the rabi (winter crop). For the Sikhs, the day has great religious meaning as Guru Gobind, the 10th guru of Sikhs, established Khalsa on this day at Anandpur in 1699 AD. The Sikhs were baptized to form the Elect. This baptism of the sword led to the creating of the Panj Pyare, the Beloved Five. Each Khalsa was to adopt the panch kakkas, (the five K’s), Kesh (unshorn hair), kanga (small boxwood comb in their hair), kaccha (a pair of shorts), kara (a steel bangle), and a kirpan (a short dagger), which have since become an integral part of the Sikh identity.

Gurupurabs: Gurupurabs celebrate the births and honor the martyrdom of Sikh Gurus. The Sikhs celebrate 10 Gurpurabs in a year. Three major Gurupurabs are: the birth anniversaries of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind and the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev. On the full moon of Kartik, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak is celebrated by the devotees with great ardor. Two days before the day of Gurupurab a non-stop reading of the Adi Granth starts and religious congregations are held and hymns from the Granth Sahib are chanted. At night buildings are illuminated.

Gugge di Marhi

Chhapar Fair: The fair is celebrated near the shrine 'Gugge di Marhi' of Gugga Pir on Anand Chaudus. A village fair that originated as a small gathering of locals to worship snake embodiment of Guga 150 years ago has emerged as a mega festival in the past three decades. The legend narrates a story of a boy and a snake born together in an agricultural family of Chhapar village. The serpent and the boy were so intimate that if one suffered a pain the other used to cry. One day the mother of the child went to the fields after laying him on a cot. To save him from the scorching sun, the snake stretched its hood over him. Mistaking that the snake is going to bite the child, a passerby killed it with a stick. The child also died immediately after the death of the snake that left the family in sorrow.The family was advised by the elders to perform religious ceremonies to worship Guga and Sidh and a he-goat was left free to mark the place of worship by striking at a particular place.

The fair lasts for three days with fun, music and dance. I remember me with my family along with other families used to go to see the fair on bullock carts. There are different kinds of swings, sweets and other eatables. You can watch the video in which people are enjoying the fair: