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INTRODUCTION
The word Punjab consists of the two words "Panj" and "Aab" where Panj means five and Aab
means water. This name was given to this region to symbolize its five rivers.
The Northwest location of the state and its fertile land created a strong attraction for foreign
influence. Persians, Arabs, the British, and Turko-Mongolians were a few of the groups
which contributed to its development. Punjab also was a nurturing ground to several religious
movements such as Buddism, Sikhism, and several schools of Islam.

The historical area of Punjab was defined to the east from the basin of the river Bias to the
boundary of the river Indus to the west. On the north the state was bounded by the Kashmiri
Himalayas and on the south it reached the plains of Rajasthan and Cholistan. However, over
history Punjab has had its boundaries expand as well as shrink. The high time for Punjab
occurred under the reign of Mugal emperor Babur and the empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
With the partition in 1947 the borders of the region shrank to its current size, with its division
into the Pakistani province of Punjab and the Indian state of Punjab

Location
Situated in the north-west of India, Punjab is bordered by Pakistan on the west, the Indian
states of Jammu & Kashmir on the north, Himachal Pradesh on it's north-east and Haryana
and Rajasthan on it's south.
Area
50362 square kilometres (Punjab occupies 1.54 % of the countrys total geographical area).
Capital
Chandigarh (population: 642,0000)
Population

Rural: 16.56 million (70.45 )%
Urban: 6.95 million (29.55 )%
The population of Punjab consists mainly of Punjabis and Rajputs.

Occupation

More than 80 percent of Punjab is cultivated, and farming is the leading occupation. The
major crops are wheat, maize (corn), rice, pulses (legumes), sugarcane, and cotton. Among
the livestock raised are buffalo and other cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry. The principal
industries include the manufacture of textiles, sewing machines, sporting goods, starch,
fertilizers, bicycles, scientific instruments, electrical goods, and machine tools, and the
processing of sugar and pine oil.

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Languages

The official language is Punjabi, which is spoken by about two-thirds of the population.
Many people are fluent in Hindi, English and Urdu also.

Currency

Rupee (100 paise equals one rupee)
State Animal
Black Buck - Locally called kala hiran, the Black Buck is a graceful antelope blessed with a
striking colour and spiraled horns. The fawns coat is yellowish but it becomes turns black at
maturity. It is found in the plains and avoid forests and hilly tracks. Mostly found in herds of
20-30, large herds may number several hundreds. With a keen eyesight and speed, it responds
to alarm call by leaps and bounds.
State Bird
Baz (Eastern Goshawk)
State Tree
Shisham

Resources and power
Lacking fossil fuels, Punjab draws its energy primarily from thermal plants fired with
imported coal.
However, a significant amount of power is provided by hydroelectric plants and, to a lesser
extent, by solar power stations. In the early 21st century, the demand for electricity in Punjab
continued to exceed the supply.

Climate

Climatically the state has three major seasons.
Hot weather (April to June) when temperature rises as high as 110F.
Rainy season (July to September). Average rainfall annual ranges between 96
cms submountain region and 46 cms in the plains.
Cold weather (October to March). Temperature goes down as low as 40F.
Major Land Features
Most of Punjab is a fertile plain; toward the southeast one finds semi-arid and desert
landscape; a belt of undulating hills extends along the northeast at the foot of the Himalayas.
Four rivers, the Ravi, Beas, Satluj and Ghaggar flow across the state in a southwesterly
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direction. They have numerous small and seasonal tributaries. In addition, Punjab is watered
by an extensive canal system.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing sector (including construction) has expanded notably since the late 20th
century.Industries with the largest number of workers include those producing silk, wool, and
other textiles;processed foods and beverages; metal products and machinery; transport
equipment; and furniture.Other important manufactures include leather goods, chemicals,
rubber and plastics, and hosiery.

Services

Punjabs services sector includes trade, transportation and storage, financial services, real
estate, publicadministration, and other services. The sector has grown rapidly since the late
20th century. By the early21st century it had become the largest component of Punjabs
economy.

Transportation

Punjab has one of the bestdeveloped road networks in the country. Allweather paved roads
extend to most villages, and the state is crossed by a number of national highways. Punjab
also is well served bythe Northern Railwaypart of the national railway system. There is an
international airport in Amritsar,and regular domestic service is available in Chandigarh and
Ludhiana. Several other airports offer cargo service.

Constitutional framework

The structure of Punjabs government, like that of most other states of India, is determined by
the national constitution of 1950. The state is led by a governor, who is appointed by the
president of India.The governor is aided and advised by a Council of Ministers, which is led
by a chief minister and responsible to the unicameral Legislative Assembly (Vidhan
Sabha).At the head of the judiciary is the High Court, which is located in Chandigarh and is
shared with the state of Haryana. Appeals from the High Court are directed to the Supreme
Court of India.

HISTORY OF PUNJAB
Aryan Migrations (516 BC -- 321 AD)
Persian Rule (516 BC -- 321 AD)
Alexander's Invasion (321 AD)
Muslim Invasions (713 AD -- 1300 AD)
The Rise of Sikh Power (1700 AD -- 1849 AD)
The word "Punjab" for the first time was mentioned in the Book ``Tarikh-e-Sher Shah''
(1580) which mentions the construction of Fort by a fellow named ``Sher Khan of Punjab''.
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Again the name is mentioned in ``Ain-e-Akbari'' part 1 written by Abul Fazal who also
mentions that the territory of Punjab was divided into two provinces of Lahore and Multan.
Similarly in the second volume of ``Aeen-e-Akbari'' title of a chapter contains the word
``Punjab'' in it. Also the Mughal King Jahangir mentions the word ``Punjab'' on page 183 of
his book "Tuzk-i-Janhageeri". [Quraishee 73]
But Archeologists have traced the signs of human habitation to times long before that of
Mughals arrival. The upper basin of Indus and the Baluchistan Plateau hosted one of the
earliest human civilizations known as the Indus valley civilization. The earliest signs of life
human activity date as far back as 7000 B.P. The Indus valley civilization grew from small
village and settlements to highly refined urban life. At its height, around 3000 B.C., it boasted
the splendid cities of Harrapa (Near present Day Sahiwal in West Punjab) and Mohenjo Daro
in the lower Indus valley. The story of the decline, whose reasons are still not completely
explained, of civilization is also told through the remains of these cities.
Aryan Migrations:
Among other reasons like the change in the weather patterns, urbanization without any rural
agricultural production base one factor is reported to be the series of raids or small scale
migrations by the Aryans from the North-West (1500-100 BC). The next thousand year
history of Punjab (or Arya-Varta, the land of Aryas, as Aryas called it) is dominated by the
Aryans and their interactions with the natives of the Indus basin. Here is where the oldest
books of human history called the Rig-Vedas are supposed to have been written. The Aryan
tongue Sanskrit became a symbol of the Aryan domination of the area.
Easternmost Satrapy of the Persians:
Punjab lied at the outskirts of the great Persian empires and came under their control from
time to time. The Persian King Darius the great is reported to have attacked Punjab and
occupied some parts. But for the first time the occupation of Punjab was completed by the
Persian King Gustasp in 516 BC. Punjab became the wealthiest Satrapy i.e., the province in
the Persian kingdom.
Greeks, the rival empire of the Persians, also had some knowledge of the area. The great
Persian Emperor Darius I (521-486 BC) appointed Skylax the Greek to explore the area
around Indus river for commercial expeditions who provided an account of his voyage in his
book ``Peripulus''. Hectaeus (500 BC) and Herodotus (483-431 BC) also wrote about the
``Indian Satrapy'' of the Persians. Alexander's expeditions were documented in the works of
Strabo, Ptolemy, Pliny, Arrian and others. They described a region that had plenty of mighty
rivers and was divided into four Kingdoms. In Greek maps we find the mention of the
mightiest of river of all the world called the Indos (Indus) and its tributaries of Hydaspes
(Jehlum), Akesines (Chenab), Hydroatis (Ravi), Hyphasis (Satluj) and Hesidros (Beas).


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Alexander's Invasion:
In 321 BC Alexander the great after breaking the might of the Persians entered their final
Satrapy of Punjab. He invited all the chieftains of this Satrapy to come to him and submit to
his authority, which is exactly what the ruler of the northwest most (west of Hydaspes)
kingdom of Gandhara with its capital of Taxilai did. But the ruler of the Kingdom Beteen
(Hydaspes and Akesines) refused to submit to Alexander's authority and the two armies
fought the historical battle on the bank of Akesines outside the town of Nikaia (somewhere
around modern city of Jehlum).
Porus put up a tough fight but his army was no match for Alexander's army. After losing his
sons and getting hurt himself when the defiant Raja was brought in front of Alexander, the
legendary conversation took place when Alexander inquired Porus, ``How should I treat
you?'', the brave Porus shot back, ``The same way as a king treats another king.''. Alexander
was struck by his genius and he not only returned the Kingdom back to Porus, but he also
added the area lying between Akesines and Hydraotis to his Kingdom whose ruler had fled.
Alexander as with his other occupied areas established two cities in the area of Punjab, where
he settled people from his multi-national armies which included a majority of Greeks and
Macedonians. These cities along with the rule of the Indo-Greek thrived long after
Alexander's departure.
Alexander's Eastern empire (from Syria to Punjab) was inherited by Selecus Nicator, the
founder of Seleucid dynasty. However the Greek empire in the east was disrupted by the
ascendancy of the Bacterians. The Bacterian King Demetrius I added Punjab to his Kingdom
in the second century BC. The best known of the Indo-Greek kings was Menander who
established his independent kingdom centered at Taxila in 170 BC. He later moved his capital
to Sagala (modern Sialkot). Menander soon captured territories east of his kingdom and grew
to rival the power of Bacterians. Menander died in a vain attempt to conquer Bacteria in 130
BC. Menander's successors maintained the their rule on Punjab till 55 BC when the whole
area was disrupted by the events happening in greater Euro-Asia.
In the middle of the second century BC, Yui Chi tribe of modern China began to move
westward which caused in turn to Sakas or Scythians to move. Northern Sakas successfully
wrestled the power of the areas from the Indo-Greeks. Another Central Asiatic people to
make Punjab their home were the white Huns who made continuous campaigns towards this
part of the world. Finally establishing their rule in the later 3rd century AD.
Muslim Invasions
Following the birth of Islam in Arabia in 6th century AD, Arabs rose to power and replaced
the Persians as the major power in the area. In 711-13 AD Arabs advanced to the land of five
rivers, occupying Multan. Further north the area that survived the Arab attacks was divided
into small kingdoms.
Meanwhile in Ghazni after the death of Subuktgin, the Turk, his son Mahmud assumed power
in 997 AD. He was to expand his father's kingdom far to the west and east of Ghazni through
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his military conquest. He was to attack Punjab 17 times during his reign. The Ghaznavids
were uprooted by the Ghauris who extended their rule as far as Delhi. Shahabuddin Ghauri
annexed Lahore to his kingdom in 1186. After Ghauri's death his governor Qutbudin Aibak
became an independent ruler of Punjab and founded the Mamluk sultanate. Khiljis' replaced
the Mamluks in 1290. The rule of Khiljis was briefly disrupted by the two successful raids by
the Mongols who marched their way to Delhi twice during Alauddin khilji's rule. tughluqs
succeeded Khiljis in 1320 AD. Tughluq rule was replaced by the Sayyids in 1414 AD. Lodhis
gained control of Delhi in 1479 AD.

The Rise of Sikh Power
Punjab presented a picture of chaos and confusion when Ranjit Singh took reins of
Sukerchikias misal. The edifice of Ahmad Shah Abdali's empire in India had crumbled.
Afghanistan was dismembered. Peshawar and Kashmir though under the suzerainty of
Afghanistan had attained de facto independence. Barakzais were the masters of these places.
Attock was ruled by Wazrikhels and Jhang lay at the feet of Sials. Pathans were ruling Kasur.
Multan had thrown yoke and Nawab Muzaffar Khan had taken its charge.
Both Punjab and Sind were under Afghan rule since 1757 after Ahmad Shah Abdali was
granted suzerainty over these two provinces. They were confronted with the rising power of
Sikhs in Punjab. Taimur Khan, a local Governor was able to turn away Sikhs from Amritsar.
He razed to the ground the fort of Ram Rauni. But this state of affairs did not last long and
the Sikh misal joined hands and defeated Taimur Shah and his Chief minister Jalal Khan. The
Afghans were forced to retreat and Lahore was occupied by the Sikhs in 1758, Jassa singh
Ahluwalia proclaimed Sikh's sovereignty and became its head. He struck coins to
commemorate his victory.
When Ahmad Shah Abdali was engaged in his campaign against the Marathas at Panipat in
1761, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia plundered Sirhind and Dialpur, seized some places in Ferozepur
district and took under his possesion Jagraon and Kot Isa Khan on the other bank of Sutlej.
He captured Hoshiarpur and Naraingarh in Ambala and levied tribute from the chief of
Kapurthala. He then marched towards Jhang. Sial chief offered stout resistance. When
Ahmad Shah left in Feb 1761, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia again attacked Sirhind and extended his
territory as far as Tarn Taran. He crossed Bias and capture Sultanpur. In 1762, Ahmad Shah
again appeared and a fierce battle took place. It is called Ghalughara, a great holocaust. Jassa
singh fled to Kangra hills after Sikh forces were totally routed.after the departure of Ahmad
Shah Abdali, Jassa Singh Ahluwali attacked Sirhind, it was razed to ground and the afghan
Governer Zen Khan was killed. This was a great victory to Sikhs who were rulers of all the
area around the Sirhind. Jassa Singh hastily paid visit to Hari Mandir Saheb at Amritsar, and
he made amends and restored it to original shape as it was defiled by Ahmad Shah by
slaughtering cows in its precincts.
Ahmad Shah died in June 1773. After his death power of Afghans declined in Punjab. Taimur
Shah ascended the throne at Kabul. By then misals, had established themselves in Punjab.
They had under their control the area as far as Saharnpur in east, Attock in west, Kangra
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Jammu in north and Multan in south. Efforts were made by Afghan rulers to dislodge Sikhs
from their citadels. Taimur Shah attacked Multan and defeated the Bhangis. The Bhangi
sardars, Lehna Singh, and Sobha singh were driven out of Lahore in 1767 by the Abdali but
soon reoccupied it. They remained in power in Lahore till 1793-the year when Shah Zaman
succeeded to the throne of Kabul.
The first attempt by Shah Zaman was made in 1793. He came up to Hassan Abdal from
where he sent an army of 7000 strong cavalry under Ahmad Shah Shahnachi but the Sikhs
totally routed them. It was a great setback to Shah Zaman but again in 1795 he reorganized
forces and attacked Hassan Abdal, snatched Rohtas from Sukerchikias, whom leader was
Ranjit Singh. who suffered at Shah Zaman's hands but did not lose courage. However, shah
had to be back in Kabul as an invasion was apprehended on his own country from the west.
After he went back, Ranjit Singh dislodged the Afghans from Rohtas.
Shah Zaman could not sit idle. In 1796 he moved, crossed Indus for the third time and dreamt
of capturing Delhi. His ambition knew no bounds. By now he had collected 3000 strong
Afghan army. He was confident a large number of Indians will join with him. Nawab of
Kasur had already assured him help. Sahib Singh of Patiala betrayed his countrymen and
declared his intentions of helping Shah Zaman. Shah Zaman was also assured help by the
Rohillas, Wazir of Oudh, and Tipu Sultan of Mysore. The news of Shah Zaman invasion
spreadlike wild fire, people started fleeing to hills for safety. Heads of Misals, though bound
to give protection to the people as they were collecting Rakhi tax from them, were the first to
leave the people in lurch. By December Shah occupied territory up to Jhelum. When he
reached Gujarat Sahib, Singh Bhangi panicked and left the place.
Next was the territory of Ranjit Singh. He was alert and raised an army of 5000 horsemen.
But they were inadequately armed with only spears and muskets. The Afghans were equipped
with heavy artillery. Ranjit Singh thought of a stiff united fight against the invaders. He came
to Amritsar. A congregation of Sarbat Khlasa was called and many Sikh sardars answered the
call. An almost unanimous opinion prevailed that Shah Zaman's army should be allowed to
enter the Punjab, and they all should retire to hills.
Forces were reorganized under the command of Ranjit Singh and they marched towards
Lahore. They were able to gave Afghans a crushing defeat in several villages and ultimately
surrounded the city of Lahore. Sorties were made in night in which they would kill a few
Afghan soldiers and then leave the city in the thick of darkness. Following this tactic they
were able to dislodge Afghans at several places.
In 1797, Shah Zaman, suddenly left for Afghansistan as his brother Mahmud had revolted.
Shahanchi khan with considerable force was left at Lahore. The Sikhs however followed
Shah up to Jhelum and snatched many goods from him. The Sikhs returned and in the way
were attacked by the army of Shahnachi khan near Ram Nagar. The Sikhs routed his army. It
was the first major achievement of Ranjit Singh. He became the hero of the land of Five
Rivers and his reputation spread far and wide.
Again in 1798 Shah Zaman attacked Punjab to avenge his defeat in 1797, people took refuge
in hills. Sarbat Khalsa was again called and Sada Kaur again persuaded Sikhs to fight till the
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last man. This time even Muslims were not spared by Shah Zaman's forces and he won
Gujarat very easily. Sada Kaur aroused the sense of Sikhs of national honour and if they had
left Amritsar then she will command the forces against Afghans. She said an Afghani soldier
was no match to a Sikh soldier . They would be give befitting reply and by the grace of Sat
Guru they would be successful.
The Afghans had plundered the towns and villages as they had vowed and declared openly
that they would exterminate the Sikhs; but in the process the Muslims suffered most as
Hindus and Sikhs had already left for the hills. The Muslims thought that they would not be
touched but their hopes were belied and their provisions were forcible taken away by the
Afghans.
Shah Zaman sought help of Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra, that he will not give any food or
shelter to Sikhs. He agreed. Shah Zaman attacked Lahore and Sikhs were surrounded from all
sides, they had to fight a grim battle. The Afghans occupied Lahore on Nov 1798, and
planned to attack Amritsar. Ranjit Singh collected his Men and faced Shah's forces about 8
Km from Amritsar. It was a well-matched encounter which forced Afghans at last to retire.
They were humiliated and fled towards Lahore. Ranjit Singh pursued them and surrounded
Lahore. Afghan supply lines were cut. Crops were burnt and other provisions plundered so
that they did not fall into Afghan's hands. The Afghans never expected such a humiliating
defeat at the hands of Sikhs. Nizam-ud.din of Kasur attacked Sikhs near Shahdara on the
banks of Ravi, but his forces were no match to Sikhs. Here too, Muslims suffered the most.
The retreating Afghans and Nizam-ud-din forces plundered the town which antagonized the
local people.
The Afghans struggled hard to dislodge Sikhs but in vain. Sikh cordon was so strong that
they made impossible for the Afghans to break it and proceed towards Delhi. Ranjit Singh
became terror to them. The moment Zaman Shah left, Ranjit Singh pursued his forces and
caught them unawares near Gujranwala. They were chased further up to Jhelum. Many
Afghan were put to death and their war equipment was taken into possession and they were
made to run for their lives. Shah Zaman was overthrown by his brother and was blinded. He
became a helpless creature and 12 years later came to Punjab to seek refuge in Ranjit Singh's
darbar, who was now the ruler of land. Destiny wished it like that.
Ranjit singh combined with Sahib Singh of Gujrat (Punjab) and Milkha Singh of Pindiwala
and a large Sikh force, fell upon the Afghan garrison while Shah Zaman was still in vicinity
of Khyber Pass. The Afghan forces fled towards north after having been routed by the Sikhs
leaving behind at Gujarat their dead including the Afghan deputy."(Bikramjit Hasrat, Life
and times of Ranjit Singh, p.36).
By this time the people of the country had become aware of the rising strength of Ranjit
Singh, the rising star on the horizon. He was the most popular leader of the Punjab and was
already yearning to enter Lahore. The people of Lahore being extremely oppressed raised
their voices of wailing to the skies and were looking towards their liberator. Muslims joined
Hindus and Sikh residents of Lahore in making an appeal to Ranjit Singh to free them from
the tyrannical rule.
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A petition was written and was signed by Mian Ashak Mohammad, Mian Mukkam Din,
Mohammad Tahir, Mohammad Bakar, Hakim Rai, and Bhai Gurbaksh Singh. It was
addressed to Ranjit singh to free them from Bhangi sardars. Ranjit singh was invited to
liberate lahore as early as possible. He mobilised a 25000 Army and marched towards Lahore
on July 6, 1799.
It was a last day of Muharram when a big procession was to be taken out in the town in the
memory of the two grandsons of Prophet Mohammad who were martyred in the battlefield
without having a drop of water. It was expected that Bhangi sardars will also participate in
procession and mourn with their Shia brethren. By the time procession was over Ranjit Singh
had reached outskirts of city.
Early morning on July 7 1799, Ranjit Singh's men had taken their positions. Guns glistened
and the bugles were sounded. Rani Sada Kaur stood outside Delhi gate and Ranjit Singh
proceeded towards Anarkali. Ranjit Singh rode along the walls of the city and got the wall
mined. A breach was blown. . It created panic and confusion. Mukkam Din, who was one of
the signatories to the petition made a proclamation with the beat of drum that town had been
taken over by him and he was now head. He ordered all the city gates to be opened. Ranjit
Singh entered the city with his troops through the Lahori Gate. Sada Kaur with a detachment
of cavalry entered through Delhi gate. Before Bhangi sardars had any inkling of it, a part of
the citadel was occupied without any resistance. Sahib Singh and Mohar Singh left the city
and sought shelter at some safer place. Chet Singh was left either to fight, defend the town or
flee as he like. He shut himself in Hazuri Bagh with only 500 men. Ranjit Singh's cavalry
surrounded Hazuri Bagh and Chet Singh surrendered and he was given permission to leave
the city along with his family.
Ranjit singh was well entrenched in the town now. Immediately after taking possesion of the
city, he paid visit to Badashahi mosque. This gesture increased his prestige and his status was
in the eyes of people. He won the hearts of the subjects, Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs alike. It
was July 7, 1799 when victorious Ranjit Singh entered Lahore.

During the rein of Maharaja Ranjit Singh , the Sikhs had even ruled on
Afghanistan . The Sikh religion flourished and the territorial boundaries increased . Ranjit
Singh constructed many Gurdwaras . He constructed the famous Sachkhand Sahib at Nanded
in Maharashtra . He also covered the famous Har Mandir Sahib (Golden Temple) with Gold
.

After his death in 1839, the Sikh governors started fighting with each other for
supremacy. Slowly the Sikh kingdom started declining and the British took over it.

The British and the Post Independence Era :-
The British ruled Punjab for 200 years like the rest of India . During this period
they committed many atrocities on the locals . Many of the Freedom Fighters of the Great
Indian Freedom Struggle were from Punjab . Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev , Lala Lajpat
Rai, Udham Singh were some of the brave sons of this soil who laid down their life for the
country . In addition thousands of unsung heros sacrificed themselves in the "Jalia Walla
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Bagh" incident .

At last on 15 th August 1947 , India became independent . But it came at a
heavy price . The Great Indian nation was partitioned on the basis of religion into two states
of India and Pakistan . Western Punjab was dominated by Muslims and went to Pakistan
while Eastern Punjab was dominated by Hindus and Sikhs and remained in India .Hindus and
Muslims with people of other religions had lived here for ages . Although there were some
differences between them , still the common culture and traditions joined them

As agreed by Indian and Pakistani leaders , the minority Hindus and Sikhs in
Pakistan would be allowed to live there only and the Muslims would be allowed to live in
India . The Indian government followed the decesion but their Pakistani counterparts did not
control the Muslim mobs in their side . Thousands of Hindus and Sikhs were mercilessly
killed in the Pakistani Punjab . Then its repercussions followed in Indian side of Punjab .
What followed after that, had never happened in the civilized history of human beings .
Around 500,000 people were killed from both sides . Another 50 million people had to
migrate to other side of the border . Hindus and Sikhs started migrating from Pakistan to
India and Muslims from India to Pakistan

GEOGRAPHY OF PUNJAB

Area

50,362 sq km

Location

Northwest part of India

Latitude

29"30N - 32"32N

Latitude

29"30N - 32"32N

Located in the fertile great North Indian Plain, the state of Punjab has a combined area of
50,362 kmsq. The state shares its borders with Pakistan on the west, on its northern frontier
by the Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh on the east while the south is bordered by
Rajasthan and Haryana. The major area of Punjab falls in the belt of the great north Indian
fertile land with an abundance of Alluvial Soil which is irrigated by a wonderful system of
rivers and manmade canals. To add to this, a string of mountains strengthen the land. On an
average, the height of these is almost 300 meters above sea level. On the southern part, the
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state and its soil becomes semi arid, which gives way to the Thar. The Shivalik also run along
the state and form as the foothills of the great Himalayas.

Flora And Fauna Of Punjab
The plains in the state of Punjab do not have any thick forests, the only available patches are
of grass, small bush and shrubs. In the southern east part of state of Punjab and the areas of
Hoshiarpur and Multan, the delicious mango fruit is grown. The other varieties of fruits that
are grown in abundance here are orange, apple, fig, quince, almond, pomegranate, peach,
mulberry, apricot and plum. The region that has major cultivation of rich flora and fauna can
be majorly seen in the Shivalik ranges in the state of Punjab. Due to rich flora and fauna in
the Shivalik region, it has been also termed as the zone of micro-endemic in India. The
variety of angiosperms in the area includes 355 different types of herbs, trees of 70 different
types; shrubs all in big and small sizes are of 70 different kinds, climbers of 19 different types
can also be seen while 21 different types of twines can also be seen here. Other than
angiosperms, other varieties available are 31 kinds of pteridophytes, bryophytes of 27
different kinds while a special species of gymnosperms named as Pinus Roxburghii can be
seen in the ranges in state of Punjab. The fauna of the area is also rich that has birds of 396
different types, Lepidoptera is of 214 different kinds, 55 varieties of fish species can also be
seen, reptiles of 20 different types are also available and mammals of 19 different kinds can
be seen in these ranges. The state of Punjab is adored with large wetland area, number of bird
sanctuaries that houses different varieties of numerous species of birds and a large number of
zoological parks. Few of them to be named are wetland named as National wetland Hari-Ke-
Pattan, the wetland of Kanjli, the wetlands of Kapurthala Sutlej, the number of wildlife
sanctuaries include the Harika wildlife in district of Tarn Taran Sahib, Zoological Park in
Ropar, Chhatbir Bansar Garden located in Sangrur Aam Khas Bagh situated in Sirhind,
Amritsars famous Ram Bagh, Shalimar Garden in Kapurthala and the famous Baradari
Garden in city of Patiala.
Animals and Birds in Punjab
Few of the local rivers in Punjab also have the dangerous species of Crocodiles. The
extraction of silk from silkworms is also another industry that flourishes in the state.
Production of bee honey is also done in some parts of Punjab. The southern plains in Punjab
is desert land hence camel can also be seen. Buffaloes can be seen grazing around the banks
of river. The north eastern part has animals like horses. The desert area also has dangerous
species of snakes like cobra and sangehur. The wild life sanctuaries have species of wild
animals like otter, wild boar, wildcat, fruit bat, hog deer, flying fox, squirrel and mongoose.
Baaz also known as the Eastern Goshawk and Blackbuck known as Antilope cervicapra are
the state bird and state animal of Punjab respectively. The Shisham known as Dalbergia
Sissoo is the state tree of state of Punjab.
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The natural formed forests can be seen in the Shivalik ranges of Punjab area in the districts
like Ropar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur. Patiala has the Bir forest while wetlands area in state
of Punjab has the famous Mand forest.
There are a number of botanical gardens spread in various areas of Punjab. There is also a
zoological park and a tiger safari park. There are a total of 3 parks dedicated to deer.
Government And Administration
Since independence, Punjabs development can very well be seen and hence, it is considered
to be Indian Granary. For administrations ease, districts are established out of Punjab,
which are 20 in number, and are namely: Bhatinda, Fatehgarh, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar,
Ludhiana, Mogha, Nawanshahr, Ropar, TarnTaran, Barnala, Amritsar, Faridkot, Ferozepur,
Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Mansa, Muktsar, Patiala, Mohali and Sangrur. Presently the Chief
Minister of Punjab is Sardar Prakash Singh Badal. Punjabs Governor is Gen. (Retd.) S.F
Rodrigues.
Punjabs Government has the right of governance in Punjab state as well as its districts,
which are 22. Punjabs Governor leads executive council, a lawmaking branch and a bench of
judges.
As other Indian states have, Punjab too has a Governor, who heads the state and the Indian
President appoints him as advised by the government at Centre. The Governor is appointed
through a ceremony by President of India. The government is headed by its Chief Minister,
who has almost all the powers of execution. Punjabs capital is Chandigarh and has a
Legislative Assembly, called Vidhan Sabha and also a secretariat. Chandigarh is also
Haryanas capital and Indian Union Territory. The High Court of Haryana and of Punjab too,
is situated in their capital, Chandigarh, and its order applies in the entire state.
Punjabs Legislative Assembly is presently unicameral and there are Members of Legislative
Assembly, or M.L.A, which are 117. Its tenure is of 5 years, until and unless not dissolved.
Punjab Government Departments
The various Punjab Government Departments are as follows:
Agriculture
Architecture
Culture, Archaeology & Museums
Cane Commissioner
Employment Department
Food and Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department
Removal of Grievances
Health & Family Welfare
Jails Department
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Labour
Local Government
Directorate of Pension & Welfare of Pensioners
Planning
Punjab Transport (Commercial Wing )
Punjab Transport (Non Commercial wing)
Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA)
Punjab Home Guards
Public Works Department (PWD) (Bridge & Roads)
Public Works Department (PWD) (Public Health)
Rural Development
Sainik Welfare
Excise & Taxation
Social Welfare
Social Security and Women & Child Development
Welfare Department for SCs & BCs
Technical Education
Finance
Prosecution & Litigation
Information of Language Department
Punjab Legal Services Authority
Irrigation
Town & Country Planning
Homeopathic Department Punjab
Higher Education
Department of Soil & Water Conservation
Directorate of Disinvestment, Punjab
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Department
Ayurvedic Department
Department of Information Technology
Political Parties in Punjab
Punjab lies in North India and is considered to be Indian Granary. As in other Indian states,
politics here also, plays an important role.
Almost every party in politics wishes to hold a certain political position in the state as Punjab
is among the booming industrial states. Punjabs Constituencies include: Amritsar, Jullundur,
Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Sangrur, Faridkot, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Phillaur, Ropar, Ludhiana,
Bhatinda and Gurdaspur. These are the constituencies from where the parties in politics
contest in elections.
The Political Parties of Punjab are divided into: National level parties in politics and the other
State level parties in politics. The National level parties of Punjab can contest in elections in
entire India. There are a number of National level parties in Punjab, they are Bhartiya Janata
Party, Samajwadi Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress,
Bahujan Samaj Party, among others. On the other hand, the State level parties can take part in
elections in a certain state. A few of them are Shiromani Akali Dal of Simranjit Singh Mann
14

and Shiromani Akali Dal. These parties in Punjab try to resolve the issues or problems, and
work on the development of society and its language.
Subdivisions
Punjab can be further categorized into several categories and regions like:
The land on the south of Sutlej is called Malwa. The region of Malwa is long and extensive
and houses a total of 11 districts. Several major cities including Patiala, Ludhiana, Sangrur,
Bathinda, Barnala, Firozpur, Moga and Barnala all are found in Marlwa which is extremely
rich in cotton crop
A part of the historical Punjab including the land of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur
forms the Majha. This region finds place between the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej. This is the
place that forms as the centre of Punjab and is credited for being the place where Sikhism
originated.
Between Sutlej and Beas lie as a region called the Doaba. The word literally translates to a
piece of land that has rivers on two sides. This prosperous and fertile land is the place
where the green revolution started in India. This region majorly excels in the produce of
wheat. The famous places and cities in the region of Doaba include Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar,
Kapurthala and Nawanshahr.

Administrative Subdivisions

Punjab has a total of 22 districts that are further sub divided into Tehsil, Block and etc
Amritsar
Barnala
Bathinda
Firozpur
Fazilka
Fatehgarh Sahib (Sirhind-Fategarh)
Faridkot
Gurdaspur
Hoshiarpur
Jalandhar
Kapurthala
Pathankot
Ludhiana
Mansa
Moga
Ajitgarh
Muktsar
Patiala
Rupnagar
Sangrur
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr)
Tarn Taran
With Chandigarh as its serving Capital, the state of Punjab has a total of 157 town and 22
districts. Some of the major cities in the state of Punjab are Moga, Ludhiana, Jalandhar,
Amritsar, Nawanshahr, Patiala, Bathinda and Ajitgarh.
15

ECONOMY OF PUNJAB
The Indian state of Punjab is one of the most vibrant and dynamic states in the whole of
India. Situated in the northwest of the country Punjab is called the Land of Five Rivers.
This unique piece of land covers an area of 50,362 square kilometers. The state's 27 million
inhabitants spread across twenty two districts are well known for its socio-economic
achievements. Agriculture continues to be the bedrock of the Punjab economy and earned its
reputation as the Granary of India. By South Asian standards, the economy of the state has
a diverse and rich resource base. Poverty has been reduced over the past 30 years, and a
social safety net put into place. There are a number of popular people and celebrities that
have already made their presence felt in different streams and activities. Among them is the
incumbent Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, one of the internationally acclaimed
personalities from Punjab. Another personality is Shri Prakash Singh Badal who has been the
Chief Minister of the state since 2007. His party, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), together with
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been, once again, elected to power by winning the
2012 assembly elections in the state. Shri Prakash Singh Badal has been the Chief Minister of
Punjab for a record-breaking fifth time. The states major economic resources are its fertile
land, the irrigation systems and its well-educated, technically sound population. These factors
have contributed to achieve higher levels of productivity and a better competitiveness level in
the global economy.



The economy of the state depends heavily on agriculture, industrial exports and tourism .The
state is endowed with vast agricultural resources. Being an agricultural state the majority of
its workers are engaged in farming and animal husbandry. The state produces most of India's
grains than any other state in the country. Wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton, fodder are the vital
economic indicators of Punjab's agrarian society. The state has two crop seasons Rabi, the
spring harvest season and the Kharif the autumn harvest season. The rice produced in the
state is marketed and processed in different types of rice mills. There are about 2,200 grain
hullers mostly in rural areas of the state. The Punjab sugarcane industry has undergone a
major overhaul during the last five decades. The sugar production too has increased in recent
16

years. Morinda Co-operative sugar mill is one of the largest sugar crushing mills in the state
with a daily crushing capacity of 4,000 tones. Animal husbandry has been an essential part of
Punjabs economic life. The dairy industry of the state is part of a long and proud agricultural
tradition of the state. Punjab is one of the largest milk producing areas of India with a
capacity of 10 per cent of the countrys total production capability. Moga, is one of the
largest milk processing plants in the state with a total production capacity of 435 thousand
liters of milk.



Punjab is one of the most industrialized states in India. The state has a large manufacturing
sector serving both the local and exports sectors. The large and small scale factories are
scatted in all parts of the state. The majority of the industrial workers are engaged in small
scale industries that make up 160,000 units Large and medium business units are four
hundred in number. The state's diverse industries range from Steel Rolling, scientific
instruments, agricultural goods, electrical goods, bicycles, garments, machine tools, textiles,
sewing machines to manufacturing of sports goods. Over the past few years the industrial
sector employed over a million. The state has positioned itself as a key destination for
operations of multinational companies in a variety of industries. In recent years, the state has
successfully attracted many big-names and reputed global companies such as Nippon,
Hitachi, Fujitsu, Nestle, Glaxo, Smithkline and Motorola. The state economy has witnessed
rapid growth in the bicycles manufacturing industry. Today the state of Punjab is the largest
bicycles manufacturer in India. Handicrafts and cottage industries of the state have been
extremely popular. Punjab has more than 39,000 small cottage industries providing widest
avenues for the states labours.
Demographics
The most widely followed religion in Punjab is Sikhism with around 60% of the population
being Sikhs. Out of the remaining 40%, 37% follow Hinduism and 4% follow various
religions like Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism.
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Of the Sikh population, the most common are the Jat Sikhs, for whom agriculture is the main
profession. During 1991, the population of Punjab was at 20.19 million. It grew up to around
24.3 million in the next ten years. Now as of 2013, the population stands at around 36
million. Around 20% of the people of Punjab belong to other states. The basic education rate
of the population stands at around 75% which is quite reasonable. Since agriculture is the
main profession of the people, a major junk of the population, that is, around 66% is
concentrated around the rural areas of Punjab.
While talking about Punjab, it is almost impossible not to mention about the Harmandir Sahib
or the Golden Temple. This picturesque shrine is located at Amritsar. The Sikhs believe that
there are total 5 Takhts, meaning temporal seats in the Sikhism religion. These Takhts are
considered to be very sacred by them. Out of these 5, three are in Punjab, making it a place of
extremely great religious importance. Inside the Golden temple, one can find the Sri Akal
Takht Sahib Ji. Anandpur Sahib which was visited by Guru Gobind Singh for creating the
Khalsa on Baisakhi day is in Punjab. Festivals like Diwali, Baisakhi, Hola Mohalla or
Gurpurb saw hundreds of Sikh devotees marching on the streets together in almost all the
major cities. Every minute village or town houses a Gurudwara in Punjab, due to the huge
number of Sikhs here. These Gurudwaras are built in various sizes, structures and patterns.
Punjabi language, written in the script of Gurmukhi , is the native language of Punjab. The
towns of Malerkotla, Sangrur, Chandigarh and Qadian are dominated by followers of Islam.
Gurdaspur is a place which is dominated by Christians, who make up to around 1.1% of the
total population of Punjab. Lots of labourers from nearby states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
have started to migrate to Punjab. This has brought in a slight increase in the non-Sikh
population in the state.
An important observation from the population of Punjab is the decreasing trend of the sex
ratio. This is ratio is always on the decrease and according to recent reports, for every 1000
males, there are only 850 females in the state.






18

RELIGION OF PUNJAB







Punjab is the land where a number of religions exist in perfect harmony with each other. Sikhism and
Hinduism form the major religions of the state. The other religions, like Islam, Christianity, Jainism
and Buddhism, also flourish, though comparatively low in proportion. Lets us check out more
information on the major religions that are followed in the state of Punjab.
Sikhism
Sikhism forms the main religion of Punjab in India. Founded by Guru Nanak Dev and other
nine Gurus, it forms the fifth largest religion in the world. The main faith of Sikhism is in
"Waheguru, meaning the Universal God. The religion preaches attainment of salvation
through disciplined and personal meditation of the Almighty. Sikhs worship the ten Gurus
and Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Scripture that is revered as the eleventh and final Guru.
Sikhism stresses on monotheism and non-anthropomorphic concept of God. Charity work and
community services are considered to be crucial in a person's life. Hard work and true
dedication is regarded as the basic guideline to lead one's life. Punjab abounds in gurdwaras,
which form the principal center of worship for the Sikhs. The Golden Temple of Amritsar is a
world famous pilgrimage center, which attracts flocks of devotees from across the globe.

Hinduism
Hinduism, though not as widely prevalent as the Sikhism, is a prominent religion of Punjab.
In fact, it is the second most prominent religion practiced in the state. The Hindus have a
liberal lifestyle and most of them even worship in gurdwaras. They are mostly into trade and
commerce. The most common castes in Hinduism, as prevalent in Punjab, are Khatri
(Kshatriya in Hindi), Brahman, Baniya and Rajput. The important Hindu sects are the
Sanatan Dharmis, Arya Samajis, Radhaswamis, Nanak Panthis and Ecumenical Hinduism.

Others
Islam forms another important religion in Punjab, though there is only a minority following
19

the same. After the partition in 1947, most of the Muslims in Punjab migrated to Pakistan.
Despite the few followers of Islam, one can easily find good number of mosques in the state.
Christianity, Jainism and Buddhism form other minority religions of the state.

LANGUAGE OF PUNJAB
The official language of the state is Punjabi that belongs to the Gurmukhi script. There are
lots of migrants belonging to Punjab in most of the parts of world. Therefore Punjabi
language, ranks tenth and fourth in the most spoken language list in the world and Asia
respectively.


Punjabi Language
The language Punjabi is considered to be the crowning glory for the already spending state of
Punjab. It has a nice ring to it and is widely popular among all other states as well. Written in
Gurmukhi script, this language has a striking resemblance to Hindi. The Punjabi language
was founded as early as the 11th century and it has been brought forward to various
generations from the legacy of Sauraseni Prakrit. The origin is of Indo-European category
and has a vast history behind it. The population of western Punjab are more familiar with the
Hindi language than the Punjabi language, whereas in the areas of eastern Punjab, the Punjabi
language dominates all other languages.
The Gurmukhi script originates from Devanagri. It belongs to the fusion and tonal category.
It falls under the fusion category because it is made up of minute linguistic units with
semantic meaning, also known as morphemes. Various morphemes form together to bring a
structure to the language. It falls under the tonal category because the tone of the language
determines the meaning of the words used. In recent times, one can see the influences of
Hindi, Urdu, English and Persian languages in the Punjabi language. People from Punjab
have migrated and settled down in various countries and therefore, the language has
undergone various changes to suit the vernacular vocabulary.
There are various dialects in Punjabi language. Different areas determine these dialects. Some
of the dialects that are used are Bhattianj, Malwai, Pahari, Doabi, Kangri, Hindko, Pothowari,
Shahpuri, Rachnavi, Majhi, Thali, Thalochri, Chakwali and Ghebi. Tourists who are not
aware of the Punjabi language do not find any difficulty to survive in Punjab, because people
here are well aware of Hindi and English as well. Therefore even foreign tourists find no
difficulty in Punjab. The people of Punjab are very helpful by nature.
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Majhi
Amritsar, Sialkot, Lahore, Gujranwala and Gurdaspur are the areas where this dialect is
common. Since most of the people are concentrated in these areas, this dialect is said to have
had a big influence on all the other dialects. This is also known as Tixali Boli.
Malwi
Ludhiana, Ambala, Ganganagar, Bathinda, Malerkotla and Ferozepur are the areas where this
dialect is common. Basically, almost all the southern areas of Punjab like Hissar, Sirsa,
Haryana and Kurukshetra too use this dialect.
Doabi
Doabi means the land between the two rivers. Therefore all areas between the rivers Sutlej
and Beas follow this dialect. Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur are other areas where this dialect is
spoken commonly.
Pothohari
This is spoken in a wide area. Areas from Kashmir, Jhelum, Gujar Khan, parts of Pakistan
and Islamabad are where this dialect is common. It bears some resemblance to another dialect
called Hindko which is spoken in Peshawar, Nowshehra, Mansehra and all other areas in the
North western Frontier province of Pakistan.
Jhangvi
The areas between Khanewal to Jhang and cities like Faisalabad, Chiniot etc. are areas where
this dialect is common. This is also known as the Jangli dialect in Punjab to reflect that this
dialect was common among tribals as well.
Multani
This dialect originated in the areas of Multan and then spread to Bahawalpur, Khairpur, Daira
Ghazi Khan, Muzafar Garhi etc. In earlier days, the southern regions of Punjab too were
known as Multani. People who are well aware of this dialect address this as Mithi Boli,
meaning sweet dialect. This is believed to have been started off by the Sufi Saints of the
Islam religion who came to the Multan region in 1165AD. As one move towards the south of
Punjab, the Multani dialect sees lots of influences from the Sindhi language that is spoken
locally. In these areas where there is a mix of Multani and Sindhi, the dialect is known as
Siraiki.
Education
21


In addition to the government, private organizations have played a significant role in the
extension of education at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels throughout the state.
Education is compulsory and free for pupils aged 6 to 11. Secondary education is also free in
state schools. Broadcasting has been especially important in the dissemination of vocational
and cultural education throughout the state. Punjab has several state universities, including
Punjabi University (1962) in Patiala, Guru Nanak Dev University (1969) in Amritsar, Panjab
University (1956) in Chandigarh, Punjab Agricultural University (1962) in Ludhiana, Punjab
Technical University (1997) in Jalandhar, and Baba Farid University of Health Sciences
(1998) in Faridkot. In addition, there are more than 200 specialized colleges and technical
institutions.
FES TIVALS OF PUNJAB
Hola Mohalla
The most colorful and hilarious of all the festivals, which are celebrated in, Punjab is Hola
Mohalla. Each year, spring is ushered in by the Sikhs with the celebration of a vigorous and
colorful festival at Anandpur Sahib. The festival is slated for the day after Holi and is
called Hola Mohalla. It was here at Anandpur Sahib that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and
last guru, instituted the pahul (baptism of the Khalsas), and elected the panj pyare (the
beloved five), and militarized his followers into the order of Nihangs (warrior-mendicants) at
this site

This festival of the Nihangs held at their headquarters Anandpur Sahib began as a counterpart
to Holi. Though it almost did away with the throwing of colors, nonetheless, it is more
colorful.

Martial arts like archery, sword fencing, fancy horse-riding, tent-pegging, and the deft
handling of other contraptions of offence and defense are displayed by the Nihangs.
Spectacular and thrilling acts of dare-devilry nimbly executed are performed. The festivities
close with a ceremonial procession taken through the township. The langar (community feast)
is open through the day and lasts as long as there are any takers.

Dressed in along tunic of bright deep blue, an elaborate turban, sometimes of enormous size,
at times banded with strips of bright yellow, armed with weapons of ones liking bows and
arrows, spears, swords and shield, muskets, guns or what have you - the Nihang displays his
skills at this festival of valor, a pageant of the past.

Gurupurabs
The festivals held in honor of the Sikh Gurus are called Gurupurabs. They are well spread
over the year but there are three important ones. On the full moon of Kartik the birth
anniversary of Guru Nanak is celebrated by the devotees with great ardor. Two days earlier a
non-stop reading of the Adi Granth is started. At different places religious congregations are
held and hymns from the Granth Sahib are chanted. Large processions and are taken out
22

through the towns. At night buildings are illuminated. The birth anniversary of Guru Gobind
Singh is also celebrated in a similar manner. The third important Gurupurab is the one
associated with the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev.
The festivals connected with the lunar days, Ekadashi (eleventh lunar day), Pooranmashi (full
moon), and Masya (new moon) occur every rnonth. Similarly, Sankranti, when the sun enters
the new Zodiac sign, is celebrated on the first of every month of the Vikrarmi era with great
gusto. It is also an occasion to prepare and eat the nicest of foods.

In the Punjab, where the Vikrami era is followed, the year begins with Chet (March-April).
On the first of this month the arrival of the new year is celebrated by the performance of a
ritual of taking the new corn, known as ann nawan karna. Sheafs of new corn are roasted and
then the parched grain is eaten. Everyone must have a bath on the new year day, and put on
new clothes. Delicacies like kheer and halwa are prepared and eaten.

Baisakhi
It is one of the most popular festivals of the Punjab, with fairs held at various places.
Baisakhi, the first day of the month of Baisakh (April/May) is New Years Day, going by the
Saka calendar. It corresponds to April 13th of the Gregorian calendar. Essentially it is a North
Indian harvest festival, for it is the day when the reaping of the rabi (winter crop) begins. The
jubilation at a bountiful harvest becomes the reason for celebration.

Through celebrated all over North India, it is nowhere as colorful as it is in Punjab, Indias
granary. The joy of the energetic Punjabis is manifest in the strenuous folk dance, the
Bhangra. This dance usually enacts the entire process of agriculture from the tilling of the soil
through harvesting. As the beat of the dholak (drum) changes, the sequences progress. The
dance movements express ploughing, sowing, weeding, reaping and winnowing. The final
sequence shows the farmer celebrating the harvest.

Though in real life the farmer has to toil hard in order to win grain from the soil, this dance
shows him performing his labors with grace and ease, a smile to his lips. Women too join the
men, both at reaping during the day, and in the many dances and folk songs at evening.
Baisakhi has a special significance for the Hindus. It is believed that the Ganga descended to
the earth on this auspicious day. The Kumbha is held every twelve years at Hardwar on this
occasion.

For the Sikhs the day has a deep religious meaning. At Anandpur this day in 1699 AD, the
tenth and last Guru, Gobind Singh, baptized the Sikhs into the Khalsa, meaning the Elect.
This baptism of the sword, called pahul, led to the creating of the panch pyare, the Beloved
Five. The Sikhs became a militant order so as to meet the challenges of persecution at the
hands of the Mughal rulers. The Khalsa was to adopt the panch kakkas, (the five Ks), 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 their distinctive signs.
The Guru enthused their valor by calling them Singh (lion), now a suffix to every Sikhs
name. To commemorate the day of the initiation of the sword, a large number of Sikhs flock
23

to Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple, Amritsar), their major shrine. They take a dip in the
holy Amrit sarovar (pool of nectar), the lake in the midst of which the Golden Temple stands.
Religious service follows in the form of Akhand Paath an end chanting of the holy

On the eleventh day of the bright half of Jeth (May-June) falls Nirjala Ekadashi, which is
better known in the Punjab as Nimani Kasti. Hindus, especially women, observe fast on this
day and smear the body with powdered sandalwood. This fast is very hard to keep because
for the whole day one has to abstain even from water. Charitably inclined people put up stalls
for free distribution of sweetened and chilled water.


Teeyan
Teeyan, a festival of the rainy season, is celebrated on the 3rd of the bright fortnight of
Sawan (July-August). The four months from Harh (June-July) to the first half of Assu
(September) are called Chaumasa. During this period the sky generally remains overcast and
the weather shifts between sultriness and rainfall. Rains bring the longed-for relief to the
heat-stricken Punjabis, and the rhythm of the little and big drops of rain instills in them the
enthusiasm which must seek expression in fun and frolic. A newly-married girl looks forward
to the rainy days when a brother or some other male relative from the parental home may
come to escort her to her father's place. This reversal from bride to being just a daughter
again is such a liberating and thrilling experience that it cannot be put into words. One day
before the Teeyan, girls apply henna to their hands and feet, and on the day of the festival
they put on their best clothes and go out to the fair. The fair resounds with the songs of love
and the rhythm of dance. The songs are known as Teeyan songs. The Giddha dance has
become a regular and most enchanting feature of this festival. At home women make kheer, a
dish specially associated with Sawan.

Rakhi
In Bhadon, on the day of the full moon, the Rakhi festival is celebrated. On this day sisters tie
the multicolored thread on the right wrist of their brothers. So long as a sister has not tied the
rakhi to her brother, she is not supposed to eat anything. After she has done so she offers
some sweets to her brother and he in return gives her some gift or money. Rakhi is meant to
remind the brother of his promise to protect his sister whenever she needs this protection. The
true origin of this festival is, however, lost in antiquity.

Dussehra
The Dussehra festival, as in most other parts of India, is celebrated in a big way. This festival
marks the victory of good over evil. Big tall effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnath
are burnt at a large number of places. During the Nauratas Ram Lila is organized at
innumerable places in the State. This song and drama has, from year to year, contributed
largely to the continuance of the tradition of folk-drama in India

Karva Chauth
24

In Kartik, on the fourth lunar day falls Karva Chauth. On this day married women observe a
fast and pray for the long life of their husbands. Sometimes even unmarried girls observe this
fast and pray for their husbands-to-be. In a way this is the mother-in-law's day too, because it
is customary on this day for the daughter-in-law to present her offerings-(Baya) in the form
of money and eatables.

Devuthan
On the eleventh lunar day in this month falls the festival of Devuthan (waking up the deities).
Metal plates are beaten in order to awaken the deities who are supposed to go to sleep
between the summer harvest and the first ploughing after the start of the autumnal rains.

Diwali
Earthen lamps or candles are lighted over buildings all over the State. People celebrate the
festival with great gusto. Houses are white-washed days ahead of it, new clothes are
purchased and sweets of all kinds are prepared. People worship Goddess Lakshmi with an
offering of sweets and silver coins. Thereafter they distribute sweets among friends and
relatives. It is believed that on this night Goddess Lakshmi in the company of Vidmata
(goddess of fate) takes a round of every house and wherever she takes a fancy, she bestows
immense prosperity.

In the Golden Temple of Amritsar, Diwali is celebrated with great eclat. Earthen lamps are
lighted all round the holy tank and their undulating reflections in the water look extremely
fascinating. Sikhs started celebrating Diwali at Amritsar from the time of their Sixth Master,
Guru Hargobind. When he rescued fifty-two rajas from imperial detention in the fort of
Gwalior and reached Amritsar, the residents there welcome him by illuminating the whole-
city.

Lohri
Lohri, which comes on the last day of Poh (December-January), is another extremely popular
festival. A few days before it arrives youngsters get together in groups and go round their
localities singing folk-songs connected with Lohri and collecting fuel and money for the
bonfire. This is a special day for making offerings to fire. When fire is lit up in the evening,
orthodox men and women go round it, pour offerings into it, and bow before it in reverence.
The first Lohri for a new bride, or a new-born babe, is enthusiastically celebrated, and sweets
are distributed.
One of the stories behind the celebration of this festival goes like this;
Somewhere between Gujaranwala and Sialkot in Pakistan now, there was a thick forest called
Rakh. There used to live a Muslim Dacoit named Dulla Bhatti, the Robinhood of Punjab. He
was brave, generous and provided maximum help to everyone in distress. During the reign of
Jahangir, a middle class Hindu who was a jealous and a cunning man spread a rumor that his
niece was very beautiful and would do credit to muslim harem. On hearing this, the mughal
officers wanted to carry her off forcibely. The girls father was extreamly worried and sought
the protection of Dulla Bhatti. Dulla at once got her married to a young Hindu boy at a simple
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ceremony in the forest.

He lit the sacred fire in keeping with the Hindu custom. Since there was no priest to chant the
holy mantras, he broke into a hiliarious song composed extepore to add chear to the occasion.
This song is sung even today on the occasion.

Maghi
Next day after Lohri comes Maghi, also called Makar Yonkranti (entry of the sun in the sign
or Capricorn). It is very popular with the punjabis. On this day fairs are held at many places.
The people go out for a holy dip and give away a lot of charity. The special dish of the day is
kheer cooked in sugarcane juice.

MUSIC OF PUNJAB

A glimpse into the lives and culture of the people of Punjab can be got through the folk idiom
of Punjab. There is a great repertoire of music, right from the time of birth to death, of love
and separation of dance and rejoicement, of marriage and fulfilment. Culturally Punjab can
be divided into three riegions, Malwa, Majha and Doaba. Today Malwa represents the true
spirit of Punjabi folk traditions. The Punjabi fold idiom is so rich, so varied and so very
versatile. It is a culture of generous, vast, large hearted people which is devoid of any
fanaticism and religious narrow mindedness of ideology.

If we go deep into the folk music of the land, it is difficult to classify it. But perhaps we can
draw board divisions for every season, every festive occasion has music associated with it.
Even food is associated with a change in season. The festivals of Punjab are numerous. Lohri
is the time after which the biting cold of winter begins to taper off. In the olden days, it was
more of a community festival, where the birth of a son, the first year of marriage was
celebrated all through the village in front of the sacred fire. Songs like 'Sunder mundriye, tera
kaun vichara, Dulla Bhathi Wala.'were sung to the beat of virourous claps. Groups of little
children would go singing round the village collecting 'gur' and 'rewari' for themselves.
'Lohri' was preceded by Maagh and the famous Maaghi Da Mela, and followed by Baisakhi,
where the Bhangra was danced by the men of the Village.

An energetic dance associated witht the ripening of crops, performed by the menfolk of the
villages. The dance manifests the vigour and vitality and exuberance of the people, in
anticipation of money coming in after the cutting of a good harvest. Then comes the season
of the monsoon, or 'sawan' when the married girls come home for a vacation, meet their old
friends, wear the colourful Phulkaris, swing under the trees, adorn themselves with 'mehndi
patterns', and glass bangles and exchange news, singing songs. 'Ni Lia De Mai, Kallean
Bagaan Di Mehandi'. No occasion goes off without the association of music in Punjab. Right
from the moment a woman announces the news of the conception of a baby, songs start. The
third month, the fifth month, and then of the actual birth of baby is associated with joyous
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songs about the impending arrival. There are songs which tell about the love of a brother or a
sister. Once a marriage is finalised, and preparations of the marriage start in the boy's and
girl's family.

For the process of washing and cleaning the grain, of making new clothes, and household
items, songs are sung by the woman in the family as they work through the night, that the
'dhol' is not used as the menfolk who are sleeping should not have their sleep disturbed. And
then the numerous songs associated with the wedding. In the girls side 'Suhag' is sung, and in
the boys side, songs while he mounts the mare, 'Sehra' and 'Ghodi' are sung. When the two
sides meet 'Sithaniyan' are exchanged. A kind of raunchy humour which makes it easier for
both the the parties to show off their wit and repartee and also provides an opportunity to get
to know each other. After the Barat is received 'Patal Kaavya' is sung after tea and while the
'Barat' is eating food together. Jugni, Sammi are basically songs centring around love, in the
Jugni normally the bachelors gather together and sing about their beloved. The Smi is more
a gypsy dance, which is performed as an expression of joy and victory, around the fire at
night. Sami is an imaginary female character of folk poetry, belonging to the Marwar area of
Rajasthan who fell in love with the the young prince, and it is around their love story that the
music and dance is set to. In the list of happy songs are included, Luddie, Dhamal and of
course the Giddha and the Bhangra, which is all set to music, which is typical of
Punjab. Along with the 'Dhol' primarily, are sung 'Bolis' which can be divided into two
categories, 'singly boli' and' lengthy boli'. Centering around mother-in-law, father-in-law,
sister-in-law and other character from everyday life the music of these two lively traditions is
extremely enervating.

Being a frontier state war played an important part in the lives of the people of Punjab. There
was also a tradition of wrestlers living in every village, and while they practised at the
'Akhara' a music grew around their practice called 'akhara singing'. The drum plays a very
important part in the folk music of Punjab. It provides the basic accompaniment to most of
folk music. The 'Dhol' and 'Dholik', the male and female drum, had it's own relevant use. The
information of an impending army was communicated by the sound of the 'Dhol', when
information was given to the neighboring villages through a particular beat. The instruments
used in Punjabi folk are typical to the region. The 'toombi', 'algoza', 'chheka', 'chimta',
'kaanto', daphali', dhad' and 'manjira' are some of the popular traditional folk instruments.

There are songs which are specific to death. Called 'Siapah', there are different kinds of
'siapah'. Special to individuals, the song of mourning deal with the loss of a brother, sister,
mother, father, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and are sung in a particular format.

As in the rest of the country Sikh religion is deeply connected with music. In fact a glossary
of music and Ragas are given at the end of the Guru Granth Sahib, the tradition starting with
Mardana, who accompanied Guru Nanak on his travels who sang the bani of Guru Nanak
with an ektaara and the rhubarb. Classical ragas are used in the shabad kirtan, gayaki of
Punjab. The sixth Guru Hargobind gave patrongae to sect of singers who sang only martial
songs. Called Dhadis, they sing at shrines and festivals, ballads, vars, and about the heroic
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feats of the Sikhs. Along with the "Dhad" the dhadi also uses a sarangi, as a musical
accompaniment.

A strong tradition of the kissa sahity of Punjab is very much part and parcel of Punjabi folk
music. The legends of Heer Ranjha , Sohni Mahiwal, Sassi Punnu, Puran Bhagat are sung
more in a semi classical style..

DANCES OF PUNJAB

Bhangra
celebrates the harvest and is associated with the festival of
Baisakhi (April 13) when the sight of tall heaps of golden
wheat fill the farmers heart with joy. To the accompaniment of
large drums called dhols, he and his fellow villagers circle
round and round in a leaping, laughing caper. Its a dance that
cuts across all divisions of class and education. At marriages,
parties, or celebrations of any sort, it is quite common for men to break out in Bhangra. There
are few sights more cheering than that of a dignified elder in three-piece suit getting up to
join the young fellows for a moment of bhangra revelry.




Gidda
Women have a different but no less exuberant dance
called gidda. The dancers enact verses called bolis,
which represent folk poetry at its best. The subject
matter of these bolis is wide ranging indeed
everything from arguments with the sister-in-law to
political affairs figure in these lively songs. Aside from the drums, the rhythm of this dance is
set by the distinctive hand-claps of the dancers.


Jhumar
This dance has originally come from Sandalbar (now in Pakistan), but is now very much a
part of Punjab folk heritage. It is a dance of graceful gait, based on specific Jhumar rhythm.
Dancers circle around the drummer, and keep up a soft, sibilant chorus as they dance.


Luddi
Luddi is a victory-dance recognisable by the swaying movements of the head. Its costume is a
simple loose shirt. The performers place one hand at the back and the other before the face;
the body movement is sinuous, snake-like. This is also danced with the drummer in the
centre.


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Julli
This dance associated with Muslim holymen called pirs and is generally danced in their
hermitages (khangahs). This dance is mostly performed in sitting posture, sometimes it is also
danced around the grave of a preceptor. A single dancer can also perform this dance.
Normally the dancer wears black.


Dankara
Also called the gaatka dance, this is a dance of celebration. Two men, each holding colourful
staves, dance round each other and tap their sticks together in rhythm with the drums. This
dance is often part of marriage celebrations.

Dhamal
Similar to bhangra and is danced by men in a circle.

Sammi
Traditionally by women of the Sandalbar region, now in Pakistan. The dancers are dressed in
bright coloured kurtas and full flowing skirts called lehengas. A peculiar silver hair ornament
is associated with this dance.

Jaago
Literally, "wake up!" When theres a marriage in the house, girls dance through the village
streets carrying a pot (gaggar) decorated with lightened candles and singing jaagu songs. The
theme of song in the Jago is social and typically a bit of teasing (often aimed at elders) goes
with the song.

Kikli
This dance is performed by women in pairs. They cross their arms, hold each others hands
and whirl around singing folk songs. Sometimes four girls join hands to perform this dance.


TOURISM IN PUNJAB
The state is well connected with airports at Chandigarh and Amritsar, several railway stations
as well as arterial national highways that link Punjab with the outside. The colorful and
exuberant state also boats of a diverse natural heritage and abounds in festive celebrations
throughout the year. The state where Bhangra music and dhaba culture reigns is a
shopaholic's paradise with its woolen and hosiery products, carpets, jutis and other
handicrafts.

Punjab, the land of five rivers and astounding cultural diversity is renowned for its cuisine,
culture and history. The bright green fertile farming land, shimmering waters, skies in various
shades of blue give your senses an ever lasting liveliest experience. The charming cities here
are dotted with enticing monuments, gurudwaras, sacred shrines, temples, ashrams, wide
lakes, museums, shopping centers, and wildlife sanctuaries.
Golden Temple
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The Golden Temple is a famous pilgrimage center and one of the most famous tourist
attractions of Punjab and India. The oldest and holiest shrine of the Sikh faith, it is revered by
thousands of devotees of all faiths across the world. The temple is nestled amidst a beautiful
pool called "Amrit Sarovar". The dome of the temple is covered by a layer of Gold plating
which gives it a brilliant dazzle in the summer sun, hence the name Golden Temple.

Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh was the site where hundreds of innocent and unarmed protesters were
trapped and massacred by British army on 13th of April, 1919. Remains of bullet marks,
pierced walls, and a martyr's well which became the funeral ground for thousands of people
who jumped off to protect themselves from the firing are testimonies of the biggest tragedy in
India.


Wagah Border
Wagah Border, 28 kilometres away from Amritsar separates India from Pakistan. Major
tourist attraction here is the "Lowering of Flags" ceremony conducted by the security forces
of India and Pakistan namely Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers.

Sheesh Mahal
Punjab, the smiling soul of India has been aptly nicknamed the city of gardens and palaces.
The imperial palaces of Punjab accentuate the beauty of the rambling farmlands and majestic
temples. Sheesh Mahal is one such exquisite palace in Patiala that flaunts the flamboyant
grandeur of the erstwhile maharajahs.

Gurudwara Anandpur Sahib
Expounding the sacred message of Sikhism, Anandpur Sahib stands on the north-western
corner of Chandigarh. As the motherland of Khalsa, the place has a significant religious
prominence. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji was believed to have brought the holy place into being
in 1664.

Harmandir Sahib
Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar is popularly known as the Golden Temple. It is also known as
Sri Darbar Sahib. This Gurdwara is located in the central part of old Amritsar. The
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Harmandir Sahib is situated on a rectangular platform surrounded by the water of Amrit
Sarovar. It is from this lake that the city of Amritsar got its name.

The architecture of the Harmandir Sahib is a combination of the Hindu and Muslim styles. It
has a two story marble structure. Harmandir Sahib can be reached by the Guru's Bridge. The
upper floor is of this temple is gold plated and is crowned with the golden dome. The golden
dome is an inverted lotus shaped structure.
Pushpa Gujral Science City
Pushpa Gujral Science City, situated on the Jalandhar- Kapurthala Road, sprawls across 72
acres of land and is one of the biggest science parks of North India. The project has come
about owing to the tremendous support of the Government who has committed to provide a
mammoth sum of Rs. 70 crore.



Gurudwara Kiratpur Sahib
Gurudwara Kiratpur Sahib was established in 1627 by the sixth Sikh Guru Sri Har Gobind
Sahib in a small peaceful town at the foothills of the Shivalik range in Punjab.

He lived his last few years of his worldly life here in Kiratpur. Situated on the bank of river
Sutlej in present day Ropar district, the auspicious place had regular association with the
other Sikh Gurus that followed. Here the seventh Sikh Guru, Guru Har Rai and eighth Sikh
Guru, Guru Har Krishan Dev Ji were born and brought up. Even the first Sikh prophet, Guru
Nanak ji is known to have visited this place in his lifetime. The place is also associated with
the memory of the renowned Muslim Saint, Pir Buddan Shah who was gifted with a very
long life.

Dera Baba Nanak
Dera Baba Nanak is situated 35 kms to west of Gurdaspur in Punjab, on the left bank of river
Ravi .The great Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the last twelve years of his precious worldly life
here in Dera Baba Nanak.

The whole place was in fact the abode of Guru Nanak Ji but it was on this bank that he chose
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to meditate. A beautiful gurudwara stands here today to commemorate the place.

Goindwal Sahib
The town of Goindwal holds immense significance in reference to the Sikh religious
pilgrimage sites. The town lies south east of Amritsar and only thirty Kilometers away from
the city. The Goindwal town boasts of some of the important Gurudwaras and among them
the Goindwal Sahib is one of the greatest. The Goindwal Sahib Gurudwara in Punjab is the
pride of the state and it is a major pilgrimage and tourists attraction.