Punjab, a region covering a part of Eastern Pakistan & NorthernIndia,and bordered by 5 rivers, has a long history and strong

cultural heritage. The people of the Punjab are called Punjabisand they speak a language called Punjabi. The three ain religions in the area are !ikhis , "induis , and Isla . The region has been invaded and ruled by any different e pires and races, including the #ryans, Persians, $reeks, %usli s, and %ongols. #round the ti e of the &5th 'entury, $uru Nanak (ev founded the !ikh religion, )hich *uickly ca e to pro inence in the region. The &+th 'entury sa) the beginning of ,ritish rule, )hich led to the e ergence of several heroic Punjabi freedo fighters. .inally, the Punjab )as split bet)een Pakistan and India at the end of ,ritishrule in &+/0. %any races of people and religions ade up the cultural heritage of the Punjab. Punjab is the land )here spiritual aspirations arose. This heroic land bore nu erous invasions, and after all its suffering, did not entirely lose its glory and its strength. "ere it )as that the gentle Nanak preached his arvellouslove for the )orld. "ere it )as that his broad heart opened and his ar s outstretched to e brace the )hole )orld.1ne of the earliest stone age cultures of !outh #sia nourished in the Punjab. People generally accept that about eight centuries before 'hrist, the Punjab )as the and the prosperous region in the )orld. ost enlightened

The "arappa civili2ation developed in Punjab and its culture spread to Iran, #fghanistan, ,alochistan, and north-)estern parts of !outh #sia.The 3edic and Epic period of the Punjab )as socially and culturally very prolific as during this glorious period, the people accelerated in the fields of philosophy and culture. "ere the people co posed the 4ig 3eda and the 5panishads. .urther, tradition aintains that 3al iki co posed the 4a ayana near the present # ritsar city and 6aikyee belonged to this region. 7ord 6rishna gave the divine essage of the $ita at 6urukshetra. It )as here that people )rote eighteen principal Puranas. The authors of 3ishnu Purana and the !hiv Purano belonged to the central Punjab.

RELIGIONS IN PUNJAB Sikhism The Sikh religion originated in the Punja region! Belo"# learn a out Sikhism$ There are o%er &' million Sikhs "orld"ide! The Sikh religion hails (rom the Punja region# ut is )ertainl* not )on(ined to the region! +an* ,esterners in Ameri)a and Euro-e ha%e ado-ted the Sikh religion# and more )ontinue to ado-t this (aith e%er*da*!In Sikhism# there is onl* one God# "ho is (ormless and all -er%asi%e# and "ho )annot take human (orm! The goal o( li(e is to rea)h God! Peo-le )an rea)h God * meditating and (ollo"ing the Guru.s tea)hings# and * doing )harita le "ork!In Sikhism# -eo-le should remem er God e%er*da* and -er(orm meditation! Sikhs reje)t ritualism su)h as religious %egetarianism and *oga# and onl* -er(orm meditation to the Guru# not idols or things! In addition# there is no dis)rimination ased on )aste# ra)e# or se/ in Sikhism!0oing )harit* "ork and )ommunit* ser%i)e is %ital in Sikhism! Sikhs must share "ith others# and earn their li%ing "ith hard "ork and not * egging! In Sikhism# one must li%e a truth(ul li(e! Islam +an* Punja is are +uslim# es-e)iall* the Punja is (rom Pakistani Punja ! Please read elo" to learn a little it a out the +uslim religion! Islam is an Ara i) "ord "hi)h means -ea)e# -urit*# a))e-tan)e and )ommitment! As a religion# Islam )alls (or )om-lete a))e-tan)e o( and su mission to the tea)hings and guidan)e o( God! A +uslim is one "ho (reel* and

"illingl* a))e-ts the su-reme -o"er o( God and stri%es to organi1e his li(e in total a))ord "ith the tea)hings o( God! 2e also "orks (or uilding so)ial institutions "hi)h re(le)t the guidan)e o( God!All +uslims -ro(ess a))e-tan)e o( God as the One and Onl* God and +ohammad as te last and (inal messanger o( God! +uslims elie%e that angels are s-iritual eings "ho )arr* out the "ill o( God! +uslims also ha%e an understanding o( destin* as an essential elie(!In Islam# there are (i%e -illars )onsidered o ligator* (or all +uslims! The -illars o( Islam -la* im-ortant roles in intelle)tual and so)ial dimensions o( Islami) li(e! The (i%e -illars o( (aith and -ra)ti)e are$ 345 The Shahada 3,itness5# 3&5 The Salat 3Pra*er5# 365 The 7akat 3Alms5# 385 The Sa"m 39ast: ing5# 3;5 The 2ajj 3Pilgrimage5! 2induism +an* o( the im-ortant 2indu s)ri-tures originated (rom the Punja region! Belo"# learn a out the 2indu religion! 2induism# dating (rom around 4;'' B<# is the oldest li%ing religion "ith o%er hal( a illion (ollo"ers! 2induism# "hi)h )omes in man* (orms o( a religion# is also a "a* o( li(e!The =edas are the sa)red s)ri-tures o( 2induism! The (our asi) =edi) ooks are the Rig:=eda# the >ajur:=eda# the Sama:=eda# and the Athar%a:=eda! Ea)h o( the =edi) ooks is di%ided into (our -arts! Ea)h )ontains a se)tion o( h*mns to the gods 3+antras5# a se)tion o( ri: tual materials 3Brahmanas5# a se)tion o( guidan)e (or hermits 3Aran*akas5# and a (ourth se)tion o( -hiloso-hi)al treatises 3U-anishads5! The +antra and Brahmana se)tions are the oldest materials "ith the Aran*akas and

U-anishads added later!The (ourteen -rin)i-al U-anishads (orm the asis o( 2indu -hiloso-h*! The* assume there is one realit*# the im-ersonal god: eing )alled Brahman! All things and eings are an e/-ression o( Brahman! E%er*thing in the "orld and e/-erien)e "hi)h is not Brahman is illusion 3ma*a5! All -henomenal e/isten)e 3-leasure# "orldl* su))ess# "ealth5 is illusion arising (rom ignoran)e o( the true nature o( realit*! Those "ho )ontinue in this ignoran)e are ound to li(e * the la" o( karma "hi)h kee-s them endlessl* in the )*)le o( irth# li(e# death# and re irth!A lot o( 2indu though has een ado-ted * other (amous (igures and religions around the "orld! 2indu: ism# the "orld.s oldest religion# is still -ra)ti)ed * man* -eo-le! Punja i language Punja i /pndbi/[3] (Gurmukhi: Pajb; Shahmukhi: Panjb) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by 3! million na"i#e speakers $orld$ide% making i" "he &"h mos" $idely spoken language ('! 3) [(][)] in "he $orld* I" is "he na"i#e language o+ "he ,un-abi people $ho inhabi" "he his"ori.al ,un-ab region o+ ,akis"an and India* I" is "he only "onal language among "he Indo-Aryan languages*[/][0][1][&] ,un-abi is "he mos" $idely spoken language in ,akis"an[ !] and "he "h mos" $idely spoken in India[ ] and "he 3rd-mos" na"i#ely spoken language in Indian Sub.on"inen"* ,un-abi is "he +our"h mos" spoken language in 2ngland and 3ales[ '] and "hird mos" spoken in 4anada*[ 3][ (] 5he language also has a signi+i.an" presen.e in "he 6ni"ed Arab 2mira"es% 6ni"ed S"a"es o+ Ameri.a% Saudi Arabia% and Aus"ralia* 5he in+luen.e o+ ,un-abi as a .ul"ural language in "he Indian Sub.on"inen" is in.reasing day by day due "o 7olly$ood* 8os" 7olly$ood mo#ies no$ ha#e ,un-abi #o.abulary mi9ed in% along $i"h a +e$ songs +ully sung in ,un-abi* A" any poin" in "ime% ,un-abi songs in 7olly$ood mo#ies no$ a..oun" +or more "han )!: o+ "he "op o+ "he .har"s lis"ings*[ )][ /][ 0] 0iale)ts and related languages?edit@ Main article: Punjabi dialects

5he ma-or diale."s o+ ,un-abi in.lude 8a-hi% ;oabi% 8al$ai% ,o$adhi% ,o"hohari% and 8ul"ani* 5he diale."s in "he <ahnda diale." .on"inuum% in.ludingSaraiki and =indko% are .onsidered as diale."s o+ ,un-abi by many linguis"s bu" as dis"in." languages by o"hers*[ 1] In Indo-Aryan diale."ology generally% "he presen.e o+ "ransi"ional diale."s .rea"es problems in assigning some diale."s "o one or ano"her >language>*[ &]['!] =o$e#er% o#er "he las" .en"ury "here has usually been li""le disagreemen" $hen i" .omes "o de+ining "he .ore region o+ "he ,un-abi language* 5he 7ri"ish linguis" George Abraham Grierson .ame "o "he .on.lusion "ha" a group o+ diale."s kno$n .olle."i#ely as >$es"ern ,un-abi> spoken nor"h and $es" o+ "he ,un-ab hear"land% in "he Indus #alley i"sel+ and on "he lo$er rea.hes o+ "he o"her +our "ribu"aries (e9.luding "he 7eas ?i#er)% in +a." .ons"i"u"ed a language dis"in." +rom ,un-abi* =e .hris"ened "his group o+ diale."s ><ahnda> in a #olume o+ "he <anguage Sur#ey o+ India (<SI) published in & &*[' ] =e grouped as >sou"hern <ahnda> "he diale."s "ha" are no$ re.ogni@ed as Saraiki* In "he Aa"ional 4ensus o+ ,akis"an ( &1 ) Saraiki and =indko (pre#iously .a"egori@ed as >3es"ern ,un-abi>)% go" "he s"a"us o+ separa"e languages%[''] $hi.h e9plains "he de.rease o+ "he per.en"age o+ ,un-abi speakers* Standard diale)t?edit@ 5he 8a-hi diale." spoken around Amri"sar is ,un-abiBs pres"ige diale." be.ause i" is "he s"andard o+ $ri""en ,un-abi* 8a-hi is spoken in "he hear" o+,un-ab in "he region o+ 8a-ha% $hi.h spans Amri"sar% 5arn 5aran% Gurdaspur and ,a"hanko" ;is"ri."s o+ "he Indian S"a"e o+ ,un-ab and <ahore% Casurand Aaro$al ;is"ri."s o+ ,akis"an ,un-ab ,ro#in.e* 5he 8al$ai and ,o$adhi diale."s spoken around <udhiana also in+luen.ed "he s"andard diale." as +irs" ,un-abi Grammar and ;i."ionary $ere $ri""en here in 1) and 1)( respe."i#ely during "he 7ri"ish rule* 5he mos" s"riking +ea"ure o+ 8al$ai in+luen.e is "he presen.e o+ // sound in "he s"andard diale."*['3] 5he 8a-hi (and <ahnda) spoken in ,akis"an is more ,ersiani@ed in #o.abulary% and "he usage o+ "he sounds /@/% /9/ and // are more pro+ound* English Ar"i.le Eamily Gurmukhi ased 3Indian5 <ekh ,ari#Fr/5abbar Shahmukhi ased 3Pakistan5 8a@mDn ChandFn/5abbar

,hilosophy 4api"al As"ronomy Iie$er

;arGan ?F-dhFnH Chagol-#igyFn ;arshak

Ealsa+F ;arul hakDma"/?a-ghar Ealkiya" Aa@rHn

Et*molog*?edit@ 5he $ord ,un-abi is deri#ed +rom "he $ord ,un-ab% ,ersian +or >Ei#e 3a"ers>* Panj is .ogna"e $i"h Sanskri"paca and Greek penta >+i#e>% and >Ab> is a .ogna"e "o Eren.h eau% <a"in aJua% >$a"er*> 5his re+ers "o +i#e ma-or eas"ern "ribu"aries o+ "he Indus ?i#er* 5he his"ori.al ,un-ab region% no$ di#ided be"$een India and ,akis"an% is de+ined physiographi.ally by "he Indus ?i#er and "hese +i#e "ribu"aries* Kne o+ "he +i#e% "he 7eas ?i#er% is a "ribu"ary o+ ano"her% "he Su"le-* In India ,un-abi is $ri""en in one o+ "$o separa"e s"andardised s.rip"s: GurmukhH and ;e#anagari* 5he $ord Gurmukhi "ransla"es in"o BGuruBs mou"hB% ['(] 5he 8uslims in "he region la"er .rea"ed "he ShahmukhH% meaning >+rom "he CingBs mou"h>% based on "he ,ersian ab-ad[')] 2istor*?edit@ Main article: History of the Punjabi language ,un-abi is an Indo-Aryan language* I" is a des.endan" o+ "he Shauraseni language% $hi.h $as "he .hie+ language o+ mediae#al nor"hern India*['/]['0]['1] ,un-abi emerged as an independen" language in "he '"h .en"ury* [citation needed] Eariduddin Gan-shakar is generally re.ognised as "he +irs" ma-or poe" o+ "he ,un-abi language*['&]

Iaran Gyan ?a"na#ali by /"h .en"ury his"orian 7hai Gurdas 5he Sikh religion origina"ed in "he )"h .en"ury in "he ,un-ab region and ,un-abi is "he predominan" language spoken by Sikhs*[3!] 8os" por"ions o+ "he Guru Gran"h Sahib use "he ,un-abi language $ri""en in Gurmukhi% "hough ,un-abi is no" "he only language used

in Sikh s.rip"ures* 5he Janamsakhis% s"ories on "he li+e and legend o+ Guru Aanak ( (/&L )3&)% are early e9amples o+ ,un-abi prose li"era"ure* Guru Aanak himsel+ .omposed ,un-abi #erse in.orpora"ing #o.abulary +rom Sanskri"% Arabi.% ,ersian% and o"her Indi. languages as .hara."eris"i. o+ "he Gurbani "radi"ion* ,un-abi Su+i poe"ry de#eloped under Shah =ussain ( )31L )&&)% Sul"an 7ahu ( /'1L /& )% Shah Shara+ ( /(!L 0'()% Ali =aider ( /&!L 01))% Saleh 8uhammad Sa+oori (son o+ =a@ra" 8ai Sa+oora Madiriyya% $hom Ali =aider had gi#en grea" "ribu"e) and 7ulleh Shah ( /1!L 0)0)* In .on"ras" "o ,ersian poe"s% $ho had pre+erred "he gha@al +or poe"i. e9pression% ,un-abi Su+i poe"s "ended "o .ompose ka+i*[3 ] ,un-abi Su+i poe"ry also in+luen.ed o"her ,un-abi li"erary "radi"ions par"i.ularly "he ,un-abi Missa% a genre o+ roman"i. "ragedy $hi.h also deri#ed inspira"ion +rom Indi.% ,ersian and Murani. sour.es* 5he Jissa o+ =eer ?an-ha by 3aris Shah ( 0!/L 0&1) is among "he mos" popular o+ ,un-abi Jissas* K"her popular s"ories in.lude Sohni Mahi al by Ea@al Shah% Mir!a Sahiban by =a+i@ 7arkhudar ( /)1L 0!0)% Sassui Punnhun by =ashim Shah ( 03)NL 1(3N)% and "issa Puran #hagat by Madaryar ( 1!'L 1&')* =eroi. ballads kno$n as #aar en-oy a ri.h oral "radi"ion in ,un-abi* ,rominen" e9amples o+ heroi. or epi. poe"ry in.lude Guru Gobind SinghBs in $handi di %ar ( ///L 0!1)* 5he semi-his"ori.al &adir Shah 'i %aar by Aa-aba" des.ribes "he in#asion o+ India by Aadir Shah in 03&* 5he Oangnama% or B3ar 4hroni.le%B $as in"rodu.ed in"o ,un-abi li"era"ure during "he 8ughal period; "he ,un-abi Jangnama o+ Shah 8ohammad ( 01!L 1/') re.oun"s "he Eirs" Anglo-Sikh 3ar o+ 1()L(/* Punja i )uisine is +ood +rom "he ,un-ab regions o+ India and ,akis"an* I" .an be non#ege"arian or .omple"ely #ege"arian* Ba)kground and o%er%ie"?edit@ Kne o+ "he main +ea"ures o+ ,un-abi .uisine is i"s di#erse range o+ dish prepara"ions* =ome .ooked and res"auran" ,un-abi .uisine .an #ary signi+i.an"ly* ?es"auran" s"yle uses large amoun"s o+ ghee ($hi.h is .lari+ied bu""er); and home .ooked re.ipes use more $hole $hea"% ri.e and o"her ingredien"s +la#ored $i"h masala (a dry spi.e mi9"ure rele#an" "o "he region)* 3i"hin "he ,un-ab region% "here are di++eren" pre+eren.es* ,eople in "he area o+ <ahore and Amri"sar pre+er s"u++ed para"has and dairy produ."s $hi.h is $ell kno$n in "he area +or "he Juali"y o+ i"s milk produ."s* 5here are .er"ain dishes $hi.h are e9.lusi#e "o ,un-ab% su.h as sarson da saag and makki di ro"i* 5he main masala in a ,un-abi dish .onsis"s o+ onion% garli. and ginger* 5andoori +ood is a ,un-abi spe.ial"y espe.ially +or non-#ege"arian dishes* 7e+ore "he &(0 par"i"ion% "andoori .ooking in India $as

"radi"ionally asso.ia"ed $i"h "he +ormer undi#ided ,un-ab* [ ] 8any o+ "he mos" popular elemen"s o+ Indian .uisine as i" is marke"ed "o non-Indian .us"omers (su.h as "andoor% naan% pakoras and #ege"able dishes $i"h paneer) is deri#ed +rom ,un-ab*[citation needed]

T*-i)al dishes Break(ast?edit@

,ara"ha =al$a poori Ealooda <assi

Non:=egetarian

4hi.ken: 5andoori 4hi.ken% 7u""er 4hi.ken% 4hi.ken 5ikka <amb: ?ogan Oosh% 7huna Gosh"% Cadhai Gosh"% ?aan Gosh"% ;al Gosh"% Saag Gosh"% Aihari Gosh"% ?ara Gosh"% ,aye da Shorba Eresh$a"er +ish dishes like Amri"sari Eish% 5andoori Eish% Eish 5ikka% Eish ,akora Cebabs: lamb% .hi.ken and bee+ .hunks 7iryanis: lamb% .hi.ken% and bee+ #aria"ions Cheema: braised min.ed lamb or bee+ mea"% .ommonly ser#ed $i"h naan Cunna Gosh": mea" prepared in Cunna (mi""i ka bar"an) ,aye: Siri ,aye

=egetarian?edit@

,ulse% bean and/or len"il prepara"ions: sarson da saag (a dish prepared +rom green mus"ard lea#es) and $i"h makki di ro"i% a bread made by .orn +lour 8ushroom and bean sab@i ;al makhani (len"ils $i"h .ream and bu""er) ra-ma (red kidney bean) and ri.e rongi (7la.k-eyed pea) .holey (ea"en $i"h naan or kul.ha) aloo (ea"en $i"h puri) Cadhi ,akora ("radi"ional .urry $i"h pakoras) and ri.e Cadhi is a "ype o+ .urry made by .ooking garam+lour $i"h .urd or bu""ermilk* Eried lumps (pakoras) o+ gram+lour $i"h sal" and .hillies are also added*

,aneer dishes like Shahi ,aneer% Choya ,aneer S$ee" dishes like ,hirni% Oalebi% 8alpua% Sheer korma Sna.ks like pakoras $hi.h is ea"en $i"h green .hu"ney also .alled as ,udina 4hu"ney% samosas

Bread -re-arations?edit@ ,un-abi breads are bo"h +la" (unlea#ened) breads as $ell as raised breads* 5he breads may be made o+ di++eren" "ypes o+ +lour and .an be made in #arious $ays: * 7aked in "he "andoor like naan% 5andoori ro"i% Cul.ha% or <a.hha ,ara"ha '* ;ry baked on "he 5a#a (Indian griddle) like ,hulka or 4hapa"i% -o$ar ki ro"i% baa-re ki ro"i and 8akki ki ro"i ("hese are also smeared $i"h $hi"e bu""er) 3* Shallo$ +ried like ,ara"ha% Ceema ,ara"ha% ,o"a"o or ?adish ,ara"ha (* ;eep +ried like ,uri and 7ha"oora (a +ermen"ed dough) Aaan is also #ery popular* I" is ser#ed $i"h mos" o+ "he dishes made a" an Indian res"auran"* Punja i 0an)e and +usi) 7hangra is "he mos" .ommonly kno$n ,un-abi musi. genre and dan.e s"yle* ,un-abi musi. is gaining re.ogni"ion in "he $es"ern $orld $i"h su.h produ."ions as 7e$are o+ "he 7oy@ by Oay-P and also is be.oming more broadly re.ogni@ed in India* 5he 5abla% ;hol% and Si"ar are all .ommon in"ermen"s o+ "he musi.al genius* ,un-abi ;an.e is based around happiness and energy* ,un-ab is #ery ri.h in "erms o+ "he amoun"s o+ dan.e +orms "ha" i" en"ails +rom some o+ "he lesser kno$ Sammi% ;hamal% Cikli and Ga"ka "o "he more popular 7hangra% Giddha and Ohumar* Ao$ a day% many non-,un-abis are also ge""ing in"o "he ,un-abi +olk dan.es $he"her i" be "hrough 6ni#ersi"y ;an.e 5eams or -us" re.rea"ional .lubs* 5he pun-abi dan.es ha#e been embra.ed by "he Ameri.an .ul"ure and o"hers alike and no$ "hey are one o+ "he mos" appre.ia"ed ar" +orms* =ere are some links "o some Ameri.an ;an.e "eams I am +amiliar $i"h: I46 7hangra s" pla.e a" 7hangra 7lo$ou" / AQ6 ,andemonium ,hilly+es" '!!& Punja i +arriage ,un-abi $eddings are based on "radi"ions and .ondu."ed $i"h a s"rong re+le."ion o+ "he ,un-abi .ul"ure* Al"hough some .us"oms are ar.hai.% ,un-abis .on"inue "o honor "heir prede.essors by .arrying on $i"h "hem* Kne o+ "he +amiliar ones "ha" ,un-abi-Ameri.anBs "ry "o repli.a"e is Oaggo% $hi.h li"erally "ransla"es in"o >3ake 6p*> 5his "radi"ion .onsis"ed o+ $omen in India going +rom house "o house and li"erally $aking up neighbors in "he middle o+ "he nigh" "o sing and dan.e in "heir house prior "o "he $edding* 5his "radi"ion .anno" be repli.a"ed in Ameri.a be.ause mos" ,un-abi +amilies donB" li#e in .lose pro9imi"y "o o"her ,un-abis* In Ameri.a $omen a""emp" "o .elebra"e by .rea"ing a similar a"mosphere $hile s"aying in "he .on+ines o+ "heir o$n house* ,un-abi $eddings are a #ery loud and energe"i. a"mosphere +ull o+ musi.% .olors% and dan.ing* 2#ery no$

and "hen a lo.al ,un-abi ne$spaper $ill publish a pie.e on ho$ arranged marriage in ,un-abi-Ameri.an households is s"ill #ery .ommon bu" "hese are -us" s"un"s "o enhan.e "he belie+s o+ "he .ommuni"y "hey ser#e* I" is more easily diges"ible "han ane.do"es abou" s"raying in"o "he more .ommon Indian-Ameri.an 3edding $hi.h are ei"her in"rodu.ed or lo#e marriage* In"rodu.ed is similar "o an arranged marriage bu" "he di++eren.e is "ha" "he "$o people ge" "o kno$ ea.h o"her +or a bi" be+ore "hey de.ide "o marry* 5hus o+ .ourse doesnB" mean "here are no arranged marriages be.ause "here are bu" i" surprises me ho$ "he .ommuni"y s"ill a""emp"s "o .laim ignoran.e "o ne$er "rends*