Introduction to Sikhism

In the religious sense, a Sikh, which literally means learner, is someone who believes in one God, Sat Guru, and follows the teachings of Gurus who reveal his teachings. The Gurus are the ten leaders of the Sikh faith, from the founder, Guru Nanak (1469-1539), to Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708); and the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture that became the final Guru after the death of Guru Gobind Singh.

In 1699, on Vaisakhi day, a Spring harvest festival, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, created the Khalsa. In founding the Khalsa, the Guru injected a new blood into his followers and encouraged them to be saint-soldiers, those who set life's goals on being spiritual and brave. The tenth Guru asked people to replace their last names, which specified their caste, with Singh, for men, and Kaur, for women, and, in addition, to keep the five "Ks" - five items beginning with the letter K: kesh, uncut hair; Kangha, a comb; Kirpan, a steel dagger, Kara, a steel bangle worn on the wrist; and Kachh, an undergarment. Guru Gobind Singh's aim in instituting the Khalsa was to create a social order based on the concepts of equality and unity of the human race.



Sikhism began in North India in the 15th century, with the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev. At the time there was tension between Hindus and Muslims, and various religious movements, who sought a love of God beyond religious conflict. Nanak was influenced by these groups, and stated: "There is no Hindu or Muslim, so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow the path of God." But Guru Nanak was moved even more by his own profound experience of God. As a result, he made sure that there would be a movement to follow his way by appointing a Guru to succeed him.





Guru Nanak emphasized the absolute unity and sovereignty of God. He believed that God created everything, and that everything is dependent on God's will. God does not become manifest in the world, but his will becomes known internally. Because so, meditation is of highest importance for Sikhs. Guru Nanak described like: "God is One, whose name is truth, the immanent creator, without fear, without hostility, immortal in form, unborn, self-sustaining, known by the grace of the Guru."

Humans are bound by karma, the moral law of cause and effect, which is worked out through rebirth. God provides them help to move through various stages, from being a wrong-doer, or manmukh, to being devoted to the Guru and absorbed in him, or gurmukh. The manmukh indulges in the five deadly evils, namely greed, pride, anger, lust, and worldly attachment, and is lost in maya, which means giving higher value to material things in life than to the spiritual. The final stage is utter bliss, or sachkand, which is beyond words and beyond rebirth.

Sikhs do not need to renounce the world; they must find the way of God in everyday life. There is strong emphasis on selfless community service, or seva, and the gurdwara, the Sikh temple, is the center of Sikh life. The gurdwara has the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture, and people assemble there for worship and singing of hymns or kirtan. Every gurdwara has langar, which is the practice of cooking and serving food for free, without distinctions of race, religion, gender, or caste. The voluntary work and donations needed for langar summarize the demands and privileges of community service.

Introduction
Bhangra is a lively form of music and dance that originated in the Punjab region in Southeast Asia. As many Bhangra lyrics reflect the long and often tumultuous history of the Punjab, knowledge of Punjabi history offers important insights into the meaning of the music. While Bhangra began as a part of harvest festival celebrations, it eventually became a part of such diverse occasions as weddings and New Year celebrations. Moreover, during the last thirty years, Bhangra has enjoyed a surge in popularity worldwide, both in traditional form and as a fusion with genres such as hip-hop, house, and reggae. As Bhangra continues to move into mainstream culture, an understanding of its history and tradition helps to appreciate it.
Punjab
The birthplace of Bhangra, the Punjab is a region extending over part of Northern India and Northeastern Pakistan. Translated, the name "Punjab" means the "Land of Five Rivers." The people of the Punjab are called Punjabis and they speak a language called Punjabi. The three main religions in the area are Sikhism, Hinduism, and Islam. The region has been invaded and ruled by many different empires and races, including the Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Muslims, and Mongols. Around the time of the 15th Century, Guru Nanak Dev founded the Sikh religion, which quickly came to prominence in the region. The 19th Century saw the beginning of British rule, which led to the emergence of several heroic freedom fighters, the subject of many Bhangra songs. Finally, the Punjab was split between Pakistan and India at the end of British rule in 1947. This partitioning resulted in a large migration of Punjabis into the United Kingdom, which eventually led to the emergence of Bhangra in Western clubs and dancehalls.

Aryan Migrations (1500 BC - 100BC)
Between 1500 BC and 100 BC the Aryan people migrated in large numbers to Punjab, drawn mainly by the area`s agricultural richness. The Aryans and their interactions with the natives dominate the next thousand-year history of Punjab. During this time the oldest books of human history, the Rig-Vedas, are supposed to have been written, and the Aryan tongue Sanskrit came into use in the area.

The Persians
Punjab, located at the outskirts of the great Persian empires, came under occasional Persian control. While the Persian king Darius The Great (521-486 BC) is reported to have attacked the Punjab and occupied some parts, King Gustap finally succeeded in occupying the entire region in 516 BC. The Punjab eventually became the wealthiest province in the Persian kingdom.

The Greeks & Alexander
The Greeks, rivals of the Persians, also coveted the Punjab. Throughout the time of 500-300 BC, several Greek scholars wrote of the area, describing a fertile land with numerous rivers.

In 326 BC Alexander The Great and his armies seized the "prosperous plains" of the Punjab. Although Alexander died only nineteen months later, the region remained under the control of other Greek rulers for several hundred years. Meanwhile, the Mauryas came to power in India, bringing with them a time of "artistic achievements".

Some scholars believe Bhangra originated during this time with the battles with Alexander.

The Muslims
After the time of the Mauryas, the Punjab - and the rest of India - endured several hundred years of chaos. Because the Punjab is located in a strategically valuable position, many different groups fought for its control. These groups include the Huns, the Hindus, Buddhists, and several other tribes from central Asia.

Following the birth of Islam in Arabia in 6th century AD, Arabs rose in prominence and replaced the Persians as the major power in the area. In 712 AD, Mohammad bin Qasim commanded an Arab army that took much of the Punjab. Three centuries later, several generations of Turk rulers seized the entire Punjab, and later much of India.

The Punjab saw more tumultuous times from the end of the Muslim dynasties until the late 18th Century. Several different Muslim groups, as well as the Mongols, attacked, occupied, and lost various parts of the region numerous times. The area`s strategic position was "unrivaled," and every new ruler tried to seize control of it. Through the many years of upheaval and fighting, these diverse groups formed a cultural melting pot, eventually all blending together into one society.

The Rise of Sikh Power
During this chaotic time, however, a remarkable man was born - a man who would transform the Punjabi consciousness permanently. This was Guru Nanak Dev. Born in 1469 in the district of Sheikhupura, Guru Nanak spent his entire adult life roaming the world. His travels included the entirety of Punjab and South East Asia, Mecca, and even Rome. By the time he died in 1539 he had launched a powerful movement with radical rejection of caste, dogma, ritualism, gender inequality, and superstition - the Sikh religion.

Over the next two centuries, nine other Gurus led the Sikhs. The tenth and final master, Guru Gobind Singh (1661-1708 AD), created the Khalsa. This was an army of saint-warriors to protect the downtrodden. He also gave Sikhs their names: Singh for males, Kaur for women, and he infused a new spirit among the masses to rise up against the ferocity of their rulers. He charged his Sikhs with the responsibility of fighting for the exploited and the oppressed.

Ranjit Singh
The Sikhs quickly established themselves as the rulers of the greater part of Punjab, culminating with the rule of Maharaja (King) Ranjit Singh, known to be one the most outstanding rulers in the history of the region. Known for his outstanding abilities in military leadership, diplomacy, and administrative skills, he combined many small communities at war with themselves into a united and strong Punjab. He took Lahore in 1799 and was proclaimed Maharaja in 1801. He is best remembered for creating a kingdom for all Punjabis, regardless of religion, caste, color, or creed.

During his reign, Singh signed a treaty to keep the British East India Company from interfering with the Punjab, while he continued to expand his kingdom to the north and west. Although he remained a devout Sikh for his entire life, Singh maintained a secular empire in which citizens of all religions lived together in peace. He died at Lahore on 27 June 1839, and the Sikh Kingdom that he built expired soon after.

The British, and the Punjabi Heroes
In 1849, the British took down the weakened Punjab army, devoid of the leadership and organization of Ranjit Singh, and gained control of the region, along with the rest of Southeast Asia. The British colonial rule was markedly different from that of Ranjit Singh, and the people were not happy - many Punjabis fought hard against British rule.

Although the British committed many atrocities, one event in 1919 is especially important. At Amritsar, Punjab, about 20,000 demonstrators protesting British rule confronted troops commanded by General Reginald E. H. Dyer in an open space known as the Jallianwalla Bagh. The troops fired on the crowd, killing an estimated 379 and wounding about 1,200. The shooting was followed by the proclamation of martial law, public floggings, and other humiliations. Although the event ended Dyer`s career, the governor of Punjab, Michael O`Dwyer, publicly supported his actions. This event left a permanent scar on Indo-British relations and was the prelude to Mahatma Gandhi`s Non-Cooperation movement.

This event brought about the emergence of many revolutionary Punjabis, including Bhagat Singh and Udham Singh. Many of these Sikhs took a violent road in achieving independence, in stark contrast to the methods of Gandhi.

Bhagat Singh was born into a family of Sikh farmers in the Punjab in 1907. His father, grandfather, and uncle were all politically active, working to achieve reform and independence in India, and Bhagat would soon develop similar ambitions. He grew up in the uneasy aftermath of the Jalianwala Bagh massacre, visiting the site when he was only fourteen. Although he began his political career by printing and distributing pamphlets and newspapers in an effort to raise political awareness in India, Bhagat Singh soon became one of the many Punjabis who elected to drive the British out of India by violent means. In 1928, he shot a British officer as retribution for the beating death of an Indian protestor. Bhagat was eventually arrested, and hanged in 1931.

Born in 1899 in the Punjab, Udham Singh was an eyewitness to the events at Jallianwalla Bagh. That event was a turning point for Udham, who devoted the rest of his life to liberating India. Between 1919 and 1933 he traveled to America, India, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, and Russia, making many contacts with other revolutionaries. He eventually entered England in 1933, determined to execute O`Dwyer. He laid low for seven years, waiting for the perfect, public opportunity in order to gain the most publicity for his cause. He finally succeeded in 1940, shooting O`Dwyer at a public meeting in London. He was hanged later that year. Under interrogation in prison, Udham Singh consistently used the name of Mohammed Singh Azad, even after the police had discovered his real name. This alias, which incorporates three different religions, symbolized that his sacrifice was for all Indians, regardless of their ethnicity or class.

Both Bhagat Singh and Udham Singh became legendary heroes for the Indian people. They were the subjects of countless Bhangra songs, and youth throughout the country idolized them. They went on to become symbols of bravery and the struggle to free India.

Partition of the Punjab
Perhaps because of its ethnic heterogeneity and turbulent history, the Punjab was partitioned between India and Pakistan when India gained its independence from Britain in 1947. As a result of the Indian Independence act, the Punjab was divided into the East Punjab province of the Union of India and the West Punjab province of Pakistan. This division, and the political problems accompanying Indian independence, led to a lack of resources (water, specifically) and a great deal of violence. As a result, many Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs abandoned their homes in the Punjab and moved to friendlier lands. In total, eight million people were uprooted, one of the largest mass-migrations in modern history. Because of the possibility of open immigration to Britain from any Commonwealth country, many people came to large British industrial cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester. (Birmingham especially is now home to a thriving Bhangra scene.)

At the same time, thousands of South Asian people, having been transplanted to work on railways in East Africa during the 1940s and 50s, also came to England. Thus, South Asian communities formed in Britain from people of diverse backgrounds, each with their own musical traditions. This diversity set the stage for the eclectic nature of the western Bhangra movement in the latter 20th Century.

Maharani Jind Kaur(1817 - 1863)

Maharani Jind Kaur was popularly known as Jindan, was wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and mother of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Sikh sovereign of the Punjab. She was daughter of Manna Singh, an Aulakh Jatt of Gujranwala, who held an humble position at the court as an overseer of the royal kennels. Scant notice of Maharani Jind Kaurs taken either by the official Lahore diarist, Sohan Lal Suri, or the British records until 1838, when according to the former, a munshi brought the blessed tidings of the birth of a son to her it appears that she and her son lived a life of obscurity under the care of Raja Dhian Singh at Jammu in August 1843, the young prince and her mother were brought to Lahore in September 1843, both Maharaja Sher Singh and Dhian Singh were assassinated. Raja Hera Singh, Dhian Singh's son, with the support of the army and chiefs, wiped out the Sandhawalia faction Shortly after, Hira Singh captured the Fort of Lahore and on 16 September 1845, the army proclaimed minor Duleep singh the sovereign of the State Hira Singh was appointed the wazir.

The political history of Jind Kaur begins from that date Gradually, she assummed the role of a dejure regent to the minor Maharaja Both Hira Singh and his adviser, Pandit Jalla, did not allow her the courtesy and consideration she was entitled to. Her establishtnent was put under the control of Misr Lal Singh. Jind Kaur mobilized opinion at the Darbar against the dominance of the Dogras. She and her brother,Jawahar Singh, pleaded with the army panchayats (regimental committees) to banish Pandit Jalla and protect the rights of minor Duleep Singh "Who is the real sovereign?" she angrily asked the regimental committees assembled in council "Duleep Singh or Hira Singh? If the fonner, then the Khalsa should ensure that he was not a king with an empty title" The council assured the Rani that Duleep Singh was the real king of the Punjab. The army generals treated Jind Kaur with deference and addressed her as Mai Sahib or mother of the entire Khalsa Commonwealth .

The eclipse of the Jalla regime was a political victory for Maharani Jind Kaur, who had goaded the army to overthrow Hira Singh and install her brother Jawahar Singh as the Wazir. She now assumed control of the governmcnt with the approval of the army generals who declared that they would place her on the throne of Delhi

Jind Kaur proclaimed herself regent and cast off her veil She became the symbol of the sovereignty of the Khalsa ruling the Punjab in the name of her son. She reviewed the troops and addressed them, held court and transacted state businessin public. She reconstituted the supreme Khalsa Council by giving representation to the principal sardars and restored a working balance between the army panchayats and the civil administration.

Numerous vexatious problems confronted the Maharani. First, An alarm was created that an English force was accompanying Peshaura Singh to Lahore, and that he was being helped secretly by Gulab Singh Second, the troops clamoured for a raise in their pay The feudatory chiefs demanded the restoration of their resumed jagirs, remission of fines and reduction of enhanced taxes and burdens imposed upon them by Hira Singh.,Finally, it appeared that the diminishing revenues of the State could not balance the increasing cost of the civil and military administration.

Jind Kaur applied herself to the solution of these problems and secured to this end the assistance of a newly appointed council of elder statesmen and military generals Kanvar Pashaura Singh was summoned to Lahore and persuaded to return to his Jagir Early in 1845, a force 35,000 strong marched to Jammu for the chastisement of Gulab Singh. The council had accused him of being a traitor to the Panth and charged him with treachery and intrigue against his sovereign. In April 1845, the army returned to Lahore with the Dogra chief as a hostage. The pay of the soldiery was enhanced and Jawahar Singh was formally installed Wazir. Maharani Jind Kaur's choice of Jawahar Singh as Wazir became the subject of criticism. To counteract the rising disaffection, Jind Kaur hastily betrothed Duleep Singh, in the powerful Atan family, opened top negotiations with Gulab Singh and promised higher pay to the soldiery. When Jawahar Singh was assassinated by the army Panchayats suspecting his hand in the murder of Kanvar Pashayra Singh, Jind Kaur gave vent to her anguish with loud lamentation. Early in November 1845, she, with the approval of the Khalsa Council, nominated Misr Lal Singh to the office of wazir.

Maharani Jind Kaur has been accused by some historians of wishing the Khalsa army to destroy itself in a war with the English. A more balanced and realistic view will be obtained by a closer examination of the policies of Ellenborough and Hardinge and of other incidental political factors which led to a clash of arms between the Sikhs and the English in December 1845, The Ellenborough papers in the Public Records Office, London, especially Ellenborough's and Hardinge's private correspondence with the Duke of Wellington, disclose the extent of British military preparations on the Sikh frontier. The correspondence reveals the inside story of the main causes of the first Anglo-Sikh warr. The republican upsurge of the Khalsa soldiery to save Ranjit Singh's kingdom from foreign aggression, the concentration of large British forces on the Sutlej, the British seizure of Suchet Singh's treasure, the intrigues of British political officers to break the loyalty of the Sikh governors of Kashmir and Multan, the rejection of Lahore claim to the village of Moran, and the extraordinarily hostile conduct of Major George Broadfoot, the British Political Agent at the North-West Frontier Agency, towards the Sikhs, particularly the virtual seizure by hint of the cis-Sutlej possessions of the Lahore Goverment in view of these factors, the theory that the Sikh army had become perilous to the regency and that the courtiers plotted to engage the army against the British becomes untenable on the contrary, the regent was the only person who exhibited determination and courage during the critical period of the war with the British .

In December 1846, Maharani Jind Kaur surrendered political power to the council of ministers appointed by the British Resident after the treaty of Bharoval. The Sikh Darbar Ceased to exist as a sovereign political body. The regent was dismissed with an annuity of Rs 1,50,00O and "an officer of Company's artillery became, in effect, the successor to Ranjit Singh "

Maharani Jind Kaur was treated with unnecessary acrimony and suspicion. She had retired gracefully to a life of religious devotion in the palace, yet mindful of the rights of her minor son as the sovereign of the Punjab. Henry Lawrence, the British Resident at Lahore, and Viscount Hardinge both accused her of fomenting intrigue and influencing the Darbar politics. After Bharoval, Hardinge had issued instructions that she must be deprived of all political power in March 1847, he expressed the view that she must be sent away from Lahore.

At the time of Tej Singh's investiture as Raja of Sialkot in August 1847, it was suspected that the young Maharaja had refused to confer the title on him at the instigation of his mother. She was also suspected of having a hand in what is known as the Premilla Plot a conspiracy designed to murder the British Resident and Tej Singh at a fete at the Shalamar Gardens. Although neither of the charges against Jind Kaur could be substantiated on enquiry, she was removed to Sheikhupura in September 1847, and her allowance was reduced to Rs 48,000. Lord Dalhousie, instructed Sir Frederick Currie, the British Resident at Lahore, to expel her from the Punjab. Currie acted promptly. He implicated Jind Kaur in a fictitious plot and sent her away from Sheikhupura to Banaras. She remained interned at Banaras under strict surveillance in 1848, allegations were made by Major MacGregor, in attendance on her, that she was in correspondence with Mulraj and Sher Singh at Multan. A few of her letters were intercepted and an alarm was created when one of her slave girls escaped from Banaras. She was removed to the Fort of Chunar from where she escaped to Nepal disguised as a maid-servant

Maharani Jind Kaur arrived at Kathmandu on 29 April 1849. The British Government promptly confiscated her jewellery worth Rs 9,00,000 and stopped her pension At Kathmandu, the sudden appearance of the widow of Ranjit Singh was both unexpected and unwelcome, Yet Jung Bahadur, the prime minister, granted her asylum, mainly as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Maharaja Ranjit Singh. A residence was assigned to her at Thapathall, on the banks of the Vagmati river, and the Nepalese government settled upon her an allowance for her maintenance. The Nepal Residency papers relate the details of Jind Kaur's unhappy sojourn in Nepal till 1860. The British Residency in Kathmandu kept a vigilant eye on her throughout. It believed that she was engaged in political intrigue to secure the revival of the Sikh dynasty in the Punjab. Under constant pressure firm the British, the Nepal Darbar turned hostile lowards the Maharani and levied the most humiliating restrictions on her. But the forlorn widow of Ranjit Singh remained undaunted. She quietly protested against the indignities and restrictions imposed upon her by Jung Bahadur. Jung Bahadur expelled from the valley one of her attendants, and the Maharani dismissed the entire staff foisted upon her by the Nepalese Government. She was then ordered to appear in person in the Darbar to acknowledge Nepalese hospitality, which she refused to do. The breach between her and Jung Bahadur widened. The Nepal Residency Records tell us that an open rift took place, and "several scenes occurred in which each seemed to have given way to temper, to have addressed the other ill very insulting language."

Towards the end of 1860, it was signified to Maharani Jind Kaur that her son, Maharaja Duleep Singh, was about to return to India and that she could visit him in Calcutta. She Welcomed the suggestion and travelled to Calcutta to meet her son, Who took her with him to England. Maharani Jind Kaur died at Kensington, England, on 1 August 1863.

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Desi Jatti!!!!!!! 8-> 8->

Shivaram Rajguru


freedom fighter who played a major role in the India's struggle for Independence. He is amongst those great Indian revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of country. His full name was Hari Shivaram Rajguru and was born into a Deshastha Brahmin family. Since his childhood days, had witnessed the brutal atrocities that the Imperial British Raj inflicted on India and her people. This instilled within him a strong urge to join hands with the revolutionaries in a bid for India's freedom struggle.

In the days of the Indian Freedom Movement, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) was an active force working against the British. Whilst their main motive was to strike fear into the heart of the British regime, they simultaneously spread awareness amongst the people. They made them take notice of the growing domestic uprising when they dealt crucial blows with attacks like in the Lahore Conspiracy Case ( 18th December, 1928) and the bombing of the Central Assembly Hall in New Delhi (8th April, 1929).

The protest against the Simon Commission in October 1928 saw the British police lathi-charge the protestors, severely injuring veteran leader Lala Lajpat Rai. Owing to the excessive beating, Lala succumbed to his injuries, which thus instilled revenge in the hearts of the revolutionaries. Thus, on 18th December, 1928 in Ferozepur, Lahore, a planned retaliation was enforced that led to the assassination of Deputy Superintendent of Police, J.P. Saunders. Shivaram Rajguru along with Sukhdev Thapar were accomplices of the legendary Bhagat Singh who spearheaded the attack. Rajguru then went into hiding in Nagpur. Whilst taking shelter in the house of an RSS worker, he even met Dr. K. B. Hedgewar. On his travel to Pune, however, Shivaram was finally arrrested. Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were then convicted of their crime and sentenced to death.

On 23rd March, 1931, the three brave revolutionaries were hanged, whilst their bodies were cremated on the banks of the River Sutlej. Shivaram Rajguru was only 23 years old when he became a martyr for his country, however, he will always be remembered in the pages of Indian history for his valor and dedication of his life towards India's independence.


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Desi Jatti!!!!!!!!

Born: September 27, 1907
Martyrdom: March 23, 1931
Achievements: Gave a new direction to revolutionary movement in India, formed 'Naujavan Bharat Sabha' to spread the message of revolution in Punjab, formed 'Hindustan Samajvadi Prajatantra Sangha' along with Chandrasekhar Azad to establish a republic in India, assassinated police official Saunders to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, dropped bomb in Central Legislative Assembly along with Batukeshwar Dutt.

Bhagat Singh was one of the most prominent faces of Indian freedom struggle. He was a revolutionary ahead of his times. By Revolution he meant that the present order of things, which is based on manifest injustice must change. Bhagat Singh studied the European revolutionary movement and was greatly attracted towards socialism. He realised that the overthrow of British rule should be accompanied by the socialist reconstruction of Indian society and for this political power must be seized by the workers.

Though portrayed as a terrorist by the British, Sardar Bhagat Singh was critical of the individual terrorism which was prevalent among the revolutionary youth of his time and called for mass mobilization. Bhagat Singh gave a new direction to the revolutionary movement in India. He differed from his predecessors on two counts. Firstly, he accepted the logic of atheism and publicly proclaimed it. Secondly, until then revolutionaries had no conception of post-independence society. Their immediate goal was destruction of the British Empire and they had no inclination to work out a political alternative. Bhagat Singh, because of his interest in studying and his keen sense of history gave revolutionary movement a goal beyond the elimination of the British. A clarity of vision and determination of purpose distinguished Bhagat Singh from other leaders of the National Movement. He emerged as the only alternative to Gandhi and the Indian National Congress, especially for the youth.

Bhagat Singh was born in a Sikh family in village Banga in Layalpur district of Punjab (now in Pakistan). He was the third son of Sardar Kishan Singh and Vidyavati. Bhagat Singh's family was actively involved in freedom struggle. His father Kishan Singh and uncle Ajit Singh were members of Ghadr Party founded in the U.S to oust British rule from India. Family atmosphere had a great effect on the mind of young Bhagat Singh and patriotism flowed in his veins from childhood.

While studying at the local D.A.V. School in Lahore, in 1916, young Bhagat Singh came into contact with some well-known political leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and Ras Bihari Bose. Punjab was politically very charged in those days. In 1919, when Jalianwala Bagh massacre took place, Bhagat Singh was only 12 years old. The massacre deeply disturbed him. On the next day of massacre Bhagat Singh went to Jalianwala Bagh and collected soil from the spot and kept it as a memento for the rest of his life. The massacre strengthened his resolve to drive British out from India.

In response to Mahatma Gandhi's call for non-cooperation against British rule in 1921, Bhagat Singh left his school and actively participated in the movement. In 1922, when Mahatma Gandhi suspended Non-cooperation movement against violence at Chauri-chaura in Gorakhpur, Bhagat was greatly disappointed. His faith in non violence weakened and he came to the conclusion that armed revolution was the only practical way of winning freedom. To continue his studies, Bhagat Singh joined the National College in Lahore, founded by Lala Lajpat Rai. At this college, which was a centre of revolutionary activities, he came into contact with revolutionaries such as Bhagwati Charan, Sukhdev and others.

To avoid early marriage, Bhagat Singh ran away from home and went to Kanpur. Here, he came into contact with a revolutionary named Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, and learnt his first lessons as revolutionary. On hearing that his grandmother was ill, Bhagat Singh returned home. He continued his revolutionary activities from his village. He went to Lahore and formed a union of revolutionaries by name 'Naujavan Bharat Sabha'. He started spreading the message of revolution in Punjab. In 1928 he attended a meeting of revolutionaries in Delhi and came into contact with Chandrasekhar Azad. The two formed 'Hindustan Samajvadi Prajatantra Sangha'. Its aim was to establish a republic in India by means of an armed revolution.

In February 1928, a committee from England, called Simon Commission visited India. The purpose of its visit was to decide how much freedom and responsibility could be given to the people of India. But there was no Indian on the committee. This angered Indians and they decided to boycott Simon Commission. While protesting against Simon Commission in Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai was brutally Lathicharged and later on succumbed to injuries. Bhagat Singh was determined to avenge Lajpat Rai's death by shooting the British official responsible for the killing, Deputy Inspector General Scott. He shot down Assistant Superintendent Saunders instead, mistaking him for Scott. Bhagat Singh had to flee from Lahore to escape death punishment.

Instead of finding the root cause of discontent of Indians, the British government took to more repressive measures. Under the Defense of India Act, it gave more power to the police to arrest persons to stop processions with suspicious movements and actions. The Act brought in the Central Legislative Assembly was defeated by one vote. Even then it was to be passed in the form of an ordinance in the "interest of the public." Bhagat Singh who was in hiding all this while, volunteered to throw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly where the meeting to pass the ordinance was being held. It was a carefully laid out plot, not to cause death or injury but to draw the attention of the government, that the modes of its suppression could no more be tolerated. It was decided that Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt would court arrest after throwing the bomb.

On April 8, 1929 Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs in the Central Assembly Hall while the Assembly was in session. The bombs did not hurt anyone. After throwing the bombs, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, deliberately courted arrest by refusing to run away from the scene. During his trial, Bhagat Singh refused to employ any defence counsel. In jail, he went on hunger strike to protest the inhuman treatment of fellow-political prisoners by jail authorities. On October 7, 1930 Bhagat Singh, Sukh Dev and Raj Guru were awarded death sentence by a special tribunal. Despite great popular pressure and numerous appeals by political leaders of India, Bhagat Singh and his associates were hanged in the early hours of March 23, 1931.


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Desi Jatti!!!!!!!!!

ਵਿਸਾਖੀ ਨਾਮ ਵਸਾਖ ਤੋਂ ਬਣੇਆ ਹੈ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅਤੇ ਹਰਿਆਣੇ ਦੇ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਸਰਦੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਫਸਲ ਕੱਟ ਲੈਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਨਵੇਂ ਸਾਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਮਨਾਂਉਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਵਿਸਾਖੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅਤੇ ਆਸ-ਪਾਸ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਡਾ ਤਿਉਹਾਰ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਕਣਕ ਦੀ ਫਸਲ ਦੇ ਪਕਣ ਦੀ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਕ ਹੈ।

ਇਸ ਦਿਨ, 13 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ 1699 ਨੂੰ ਦਸਵੇਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਪੰਥ ਦੀ ਸਥਾਪਨਾ ਕੀਤੀ। ਸਿੱਖ ਇਸ ਤਿਉਹਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਮੂਹਕ ਜਨਮਦਿਵਸ ਦੇ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਨਾਂਉਦੇ ਹਨ।

ਪਰਕਿਰਤੀ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਨਿਯਮ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਜੁਲਮ, ਅਨਿਆਂ, ਅੱਤਿਆਚਾਰ ਦੀ ਪਰਾਕਾਸ਼ਠਾ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਹੱਲ ਕਰਨ ਅਤੇ ਉਸਦੇ ਉਪਾਅ ਲਈ ਕੋਈ ਕਾਰਨ ਵੀ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਨਿਅਮਾਧੀਨ ਜਦੋਂ ਮੁਗਲ ਸ਼ਾਸਕ ਔਰੰਗਜੇਬ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਜੁਲਮ, ਅਨਿਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਅੱਤਿਆਚਾਰ ਦੀ ਹਰ ਸੀਮਾ ਲਾਂਘ, ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦੁਰ ਨੂੰ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਚਾਂਦਨੀ ਚੌਕ ਉੱਤੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ, ਉਦੋਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਅਨੁਗਾਮੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਗਠਿਤ ਕੇ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਪੰਥ ਦੀ ਸਥਾਪਨਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਿਸਦਾ ਲਕਸ਼ ਧਰਮ ਅਤੇ ਨੇਕੀ (ਭਲਾਈ) ਦੇ ਆਦਰਸ਼ ਲਈ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਤਤਪਰ ਰਹਿਣਾ।[੧]
ਪੁਰਾਣੇ ਰੀਤੀ-ਰਿਵਾਜਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਗ੍ਰਸਤ ਕਮਜੋਰ, ਕਮਜੋਰ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਹਸਹੀਨ ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਲੋਕ, ਸਦੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਰਾਜਨੀਤਕ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਨਸਿਕ ਗੁਲਾਮੀ ਦੇ ਕਾਰਨ ਕਾਇਰ ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਸਨ। ਨਿਮਨ ਜਾਤੀ ਦੇ ਸਮਝੇ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਾਜ ਛੋਟਾ ਸੱਮਝਦਾ ਸੀ, ਦਸ਼ਮੇਸ਼ ਪਿਤਾ ਨੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਛਕਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ 13 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ, 1699 ਨੂੰ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕੇਸਗੜ੍ਹ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਆਨੰਦਪੁਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਸਵੇਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਪੰਥ ਦੀ ਸਥਾਪਨਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਤੇ ਅੱਤਿਆਚਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਾਪਤ ਕੀਤਾ।
ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਜਾਤੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਹੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਪਾਤਰ (ਬਾਟੇ) ਤੋਂ ਅਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਛਕਾ ਪੰਜ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਜਾਏ। ਇਹ ਪੰਜ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਇੱਕ ਜਾਤੀ ਜਾਂ ਸਥਾਨ ਦੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਨ, ਬਲਕਿ‌ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਜਾਤੀ, ਕੁੱਲ ਅਤੇ ਸਥਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਨ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਖੰਡੇ ਬਾਟੇ ਦਾ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਛਕਾ ਕੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਨਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਲਗਾ। ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਹੀ ਹੰਕਾਰੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੇ, "ਗਿਆਨੀ" ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਅਕਸਰ ਘਮੰਡ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਜੋ ਪਰਿਗਰਹ (ਢੇਰ) ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਘਮੰਡ ਹੋ ਅਜਿਹਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ, ਅਪਰਿਗਰਹੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਕਦੇ-ਕਦੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਤਿਆਗ ਦਾ ਘਮੰਡ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।[੨]
ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀ ਅਤਿਅੰਤ ਸੂਖਮ ਹੈਂਕੜ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਿਕਾਰ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਗਿਆਨੀ, ਧਿਆਨੀ, ਗੁਰੂ, ਤਿਆਗੀ ਜਾਂ ਸੰਨਿਆਸੀ ਹੋਣ ਦਾ ਹੈਂਕੜ ਕਿਤੇ ਜਿਆਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਬਲ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਗੱਲ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਸਨ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਨਾ ਕੇਵਲ ਆਪਣੇ ਗੁਰੂਤਵ ਨੂੰ ਤਿਆਗ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੱਦੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਨੂੰ ਸੌਂਪੀ ਸਗੋਂ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਪੂਜਾ ਹੀ ਨਿਸ਼ਿੱਧ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ।

ਹਿੰਦੂਆਂ ਲਈ ਇਹ ਤਿਉਹਾਰ ਨਵ ਵਰਸ਼ ਦੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੁਆਤ ਹੈ। ਹਿੰਦੂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਇਸਨਾਨ, ਭੋਗ ਲਗਾਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਮਨਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਅਜਿਹਾ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਹਜਾਰਾਂ ਸਾਲ ਪਹਲੇ ਦੇਵੀ ਗੰਗਾ ਇਸ ਦਿਨ ਧਰਤੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਉਤਰੀ ਸਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਧਰਮਾਵਲੰਬੀ ਪਾਰੰਪਰਕ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਇਸਨਾਨ ਲਈ ਗੰਗਾ ਕੰਡੇ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹੈ।[੩]

ਕੇਰਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਹ ਤਿਉਹਾਰ ਵਿਸ਼ੁ ਕਹਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਦਿਨ ਨਵੇਂ, ਕੱਪੜੇ ਖਰੀਦੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਆਤਿਸ਼ਬਾਜੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੁ ਕਾਨੀ ਸਜਾਈ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਫੁੱਲ, ਫਲ, ਅਨਾਜ, ਬਸਤਰ, ਸੋਨਾ ਆਦਿ ਸਜਾਏ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਸੁਬ੍ਹਾ ਜਲਦੀ ਇਸਦੇ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਨਾਲ ਨਵੇਂ ਸਾਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੁੱਖ-ਸਮ੍ਰਿੱਧੀ ਦੀ ਕਾਮਨਾ ਦੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ। ਬੰਗਾਲ ਮੇਇਨ ਇਹ ਤਿਉਹਾਰ ਨਭ ਬਰਸ਼ ਦੇ ਨਮ ਨਾਲ ਮਨਾਂਦੇ ਹੈ।



Pj pari & pj gallery worker
Desi Jatti!!!!!!!!!

Majha (Punjabi: ਮਾਝਾ, ماجھا; Hindi: माझा Mājha) is a historical region of the Punjab comprising the modern districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran in the Indian State of Punjab and the districts of Narowal, Lahore and Kasur in the Pakistani Province of Punjab. Historically, Majha comprised the older settled parts of the Bari Doab (in particular Sheikhupura) and the Rechna Doab (in particular, Gujranwala), the newer settled parts belonging to the canal colonies.[1] Major towns in the region include Amritsar, Batala, Pathankot, Rawalpindi, Gurdaspur, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib Gujranwala, Sialkot, Wazirabad, Gujrat, and Tarn Taran Sahib.
The largest part of Majha called the Bari Doab. It lies between two of the five great rivers of the Punjab: the Ravi and the Beas(Ba- For Beas, and -ri for River Ravi). As such, Majha lies in the heart of the ancient Punjab region. No wonder then, that one meaning of Majha is 'the central plains' or 'the central country'.
The people of Majha are known as 'Majhis' or 'Majhhis'.


Pj pari & pj gallery team worker
Desi Jatti!!!!!!!!! :omg: :omg:

Doaba is the region of Indian Punjab surrounded by the rivers Beas and Sutlej. The name "Doaba" literally translates to "land of two rivers" ("Do" two, "Ab" river; Punjabi). It is one of the most fertile regions of the world, and was the centre of the Green Revolution in India. To this day, it remains one of the largest per capita producers of wheat in the world.[citation needed]
The people of Doaba started out as agriculturalists, but have now diversified into education, sports and entrepreneurship. The highly progressive and enterprising population has, in recent years, suffered from demographic upheavals engendered by large scale migration to North America, and female foeticide.
The biggest cities in Doaba are Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Adampur, Nawansher and Phagwara. Jalandhar is one of the most famous cities of Doaba. This city has highest density of hospitals in Asia. DAV's first engineering college is also placed at Jalandhar. Highest production of sports material. India's famous spin bowler Harbhajan singh is from Jalandhar. Adampur has an Indian airforce base and was bombed in each of the India Pakistan wars.


Pj Pari & Gallery team work
Desi Jatti!!!!!!!!

ਦੇਸ਼   - ਭਾਰਤ
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ਸਥਾਪਿਤ   - ੧੯੬੬-੧੧-੦੧
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ਰਾਜਧਾਨੀ   - ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ
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ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਡਾ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ   - ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ
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ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹੇ-    ੨੨
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ਸਰਕਾਰ
 • ਗਵਰਨਰ-    ਸ਼ਿਵਰਾਜ ਪਾਟਿਲ
 • ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ-    ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਦਲ (SAD)
 • ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ   - ਨਰਿੰਦਰ ਮੋਦੀ
 • ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ-    ੧੧੭ ਸੰਸਦੀ
 • ਸੰਸਦੀ ਹਲਕੇ   - ੧੩
 • ਆਬਾਦੀ- (੨੦੧੧)
 • ਕੁੱਲ   - ੨,੭੭,੦੪,੨੩੬
 • ਸੰਘਣਾਪਣ   - ./ਕਿ.ਮੀ.੨ (./ਵਰਗ ਮੀਲ)


ਪੰਜਾਬ ਉੱਤਰ-ਪੱਛਮੀ ਭਾਰਤ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਰਾਜ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਵੱਡੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਖੇਤ‍ਰ ਦਾ ਇਕ ਭਾਗ ਹੈ। ਇਸਦਾ ਦੂਸਰਾ ਭਾਗ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੈ। ਇਸਦੀ ਸਰਹੱਦ ਉੱਤਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੰਮੂ ਅਤੇ ਕਸ਼ਮੀਰ, ਉੱਤਰ-ਪੂਰਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਿਮਾਚਲ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼, ਦੱਖਣ-ਪੂਰਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਰਿਆਣੇ, ਦੱਖਣ-ਪੱਛਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਾਜਸਥਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਪੱਛਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨਾਲ ਲੱਗਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ, ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ, ਜਲੰਧਰ, ਬਠਿੰਡਾ, ਫ਼ਿਰੋਜ਼ਪੁਰ, ਮੋਹਾਲੀ ਅਤੇ ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਰਾਜਧਾਨੀ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਹੈ।


1947 ਦੀ ਭਾਰਤ-ਵੰਡ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਬਰਤਾਨਵੀ ਭਾਰਤ ਦੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸੂਬੇ ਨੂੰ ਭਾਰਤ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਦਰਮਿਆਨ ਵੰਡ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। 1966 ਵਿੱਚ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਮੁੜ ਵੰਡ ਹੋਈ ਅਤੇ ਨਤੀਜੇ ਵਜੋਂ ਹਰਿਆਣਾ ਅਤੇ ਹਿਮਾਚਲ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼ ਹੋਂਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਏ ਅਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਰਾਜ ਬਣਿਆ। ਇਹ ਭਾਰਤ ਦਾ ਇਕੱਲਾ ਸੂਬਾ ਹੈ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਬਹੁਮਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਨ।

ਯੂਨਾਨੀ ਲੋਕ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਪੈਂਟਾਪੋਟਾਮੀਆ ਨਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਸਨ ਜੋ ਕਿ ਪੰਜ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਦਰਿਆਵਾਂ ਦਾ ਅੰਦਰੂਨੀ ਡੈਲਟਾ ਹੈ। ਪਾਰਸੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਅਵੈਸਟਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਖੇਤਰ ਨੂੰ ਪੁਰਾਤਨ ਹਪਤਾ ਹੇਂਦੂ ਜਾਂ ਸਪਤ-ਸਿੰਧੂ (ਸੱਤ ਦਰਿਆਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਧਰਤੀ) ਨਾਲ ਜੋੜਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਬਰਤਾਨਵੀ ਲੋਕ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ "ਸਾਡਾ ਪਰੱਸ਼ੀਆ" ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਬੁਲਾਉਂਦੇ ਸਨ। ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਯੂਨਾਨੀਆਂ, ਮੱਧ ਏਸ਼ੀਆਈਆਂ, ਅਫ਼ਗਾਨੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਉਪ-ਮਹਾਂਦੀਪ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਵੇਸ਼-ਦੁਆਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।

ਖੇਤੀਬਾੜੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਡਾ ਉਦਯੋਗ ਹੈ; ਇਹ ਭਾਰਤ ਦਾ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਡਾ ਕਣਕ ਉਤਪਾਦਕ ਹੈ। ਹੋਰ ਪ੍ਰਮੁੱਖ ਉਦਯੋਗ ਹਨ: ਵਿਗਿਆਨਕ ਸਾਜ਼ਾਂ, ਖੇਤੀਬਾੜੀ, ਖੇਡ ਅਤੇ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਸੰਬੰਧੀ ਮਾਲ, ਸਿਲਾਈ ਮਸ਼ੀਨਾਂ, ਮਸ਼ੀਨ ਸੰਦਾਂ, ਸਟਾਰਚ, ਸਾਈਕਲਾਂ, ਖਾਦਾਂ ਆਦਿ ਦਾ ਨਿਰਮਾਣ, ਵਿੱਤੀ ਰੁਜ਼ਗਾਰ, ਸੈਰ-ਸਪਾਟਾ ਅਤੇ ਦਿਉਦਾਰ ਦੇ ਤੇਲ ਅਤੇ ਖੰਡ ਦਾ ਉਤਪਾਦਨ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਇਸਪਾਤ ਦੇ ਰਿੜ੍ਹਵੀਆਂ ਮਿੱਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਕਾਰਖਾਨੇ ਹਨ ਜੋ ਕਿ ਫ਼ਤਹਿਗੜ੍ਹ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜਿਲੇ ਦੀ ਇਸਪਾਤ ਨਗਰੀ ਮੰਡੀ ਗੋਬਿੰਦਗੜ੍ਹ ਵਿਖੇ ਹਨ।

ਸ਼ਬਦ ਉਤਪਤੀ
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਫ਼ਾਰਸੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਦੇ ਦੋ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ 'ਪੰਜ' ਅਤੇ 'ਆਬ' ਦਾ ਮੇਲ ਹੈ ਜਿਸਦਾ ਮਤਲਬ ਹੈ ਪੰਜ ਪਾਣੀ ਅਤੇ ਜਿਸਦਾ ਸ਼ਾਬਦਿਕ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ ਪੰਜ ਦਰਿਆਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਧਰਤੀ। ਇਹ ਪੰਜ ਦਰਿਆ ਹਨ:ਸਤਲੁਜ, ਬਿਆਸ, ਰਾਵੀ, ਚਨਾਬ ਅਤੇ ਜਿਹਲਮ।

ਭੂਗੋਲ
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਉੱਤਰ-ਪੱਛਮੀ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਥਿੱਤ ਹੈ ਜਿਸਦਾ ਰਕਬਾ ੫੦,੩੬੨ ਵਰਗ ਕਿ. ਮੀ. ਹੈ।ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅਕਸ਼ਾਂਸ਼ (latitudes) ੨੯.੩੦° ਤੋਂ ੩੨.੩੨° ਉੱਤਰ ਅਤੇ ਰੇਖਾਂਸ਼ (longitudes) ੭੩.੫੫° ਤੋਂ ੭੬.੫੦° ਪੂਰਬ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਫੈਲਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ।[੧] ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਸਰਹੱਦ ਉੱਤਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੰਮੂ ਅਤੇ ਕਸ਼ਮੀਰ, ਉੱਤਰ-ਪੂਰਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਿਮਾਚਲ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼, ਦੱਖਣ-ਪੂਰਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਰਿਆਣਾ, ਦੱਖਣ-ਪੱਛਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਾਜਸਥਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਪੱਛਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨਾਲ ਲੱਗਦੀ ਹੈ।

ਇਤਿਹਾਸ
ਮਹਾਂਭਾਰਤ ਸਮਾਂ ਦੇ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਚਨਦ ਦੇ ਨਾਂ ਨਾਲ਼ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਸੀ[੨][੩]। ਹੜੱਪਾ (ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ,ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ) ਜਿਹੇ ਸ਼ਹਿਰਾਂ ਕਰਕੇ ਸਿੱਧੂ-ਘਾਟੀ ਸੱਭਿਅਤਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਇਲਾਕੇ ਦੇ ਕਾਫੀ ਵੱਡੇ ਹਿੱਸੇ 'ਚ ਫੈਲੀ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ। ਵੇਦੀ ਸੱਭਿਅਤਾ ਸਰਸਵਤੀ ਦੇ ਕਿਨਾਰੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਮੇਤ ਲਗਭਗ ਪੂਰੇ ਉੱਤਰੀ ਭਾਰਤ 'ਚ ਫੈਲੀ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਸੱਭਿਅਤਾ ਨੇ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਉੱਪ ਮਹਾਂਦੀਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਆੳਣ ਵਾਲ਼ੇ ਸੱਭਿਆਚਾਰਾਂ ਤੇ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਅਸਰ ਪਾਇਆ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਗੰਧਾਰ, ਮਹਾਂਜਨਪਦ, ਨੰਦ, ਮੌਰੀਆ, ਸ਼ੁੰਗ, ਕੁਸ਼ਾਨ, ਗੁਪਤ ਖ਼ਾਨਦਾਨ, ਪਲਾਸ, ਗੁੱਜਰ-ਪ੍ਰਤੀਹਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਸਮੇਤ ਮਹਾਨ ਪ੍ਰਾਚੀਨ ਸਾਮਰਾਜ ਦਾ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਸੀ। ਮਹਾਨ ਸਿਕੰਦਰ ਦੇ ਅਨਵੇਸ਼ਣ ਦੇ ਦੂਰ ਪੂਰਵੀ ਸੀਮਾ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਨਦੀ ਦੇ ਕੰਡੇ ਸੀ। ਖੇਤੀਬਾੜੀ ਨਿੱਖਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਵਪਾਰਕ ਸ਼ਹਿਰਾਂ (ਜਿਵੇਂ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਅਤੇ ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ) ਦੀ ਜਾਇਦਾਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਾਧਾ ਹੋਇਆ।

ਆਪਣੇ ਭੂਗੋਲਕ ਟਿਕਾਣੇ ਕਰਕੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਇਲਾਕਾ ਪੱਛਮ ਅਤੇ ਪੂਰਬ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਹੱਲਿਆਂ ਹੇਠ ਰਿਹਾ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਫ਼ਾਰਸੀਆਂ, ਯੂਨਾਨੀਆਂ, ਸਿਥੀਅਨਾਂ, ਤੁਰਕਾਂ, ਅਤੇ ਅਫ਼ਗਾਨੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਿਆ। ਇਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੇ ਕਈ ਸੌ ਸਾਲ ਕੌੜਾ ਖ਼ੂਨ-ਖ਼ਰਾਬਾ ਝੱਲਿਆ। ਇਸਦੀ ਵਿਰਾਸਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਨਿਵੇਕਲਾ ਸੱਭਿਆਚਾਰ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਹਿੰਦੂ, ਬੋਧੀ, ਫ਼ਾਰਸੀ/ਪਾਰਸੀ, ਮੱਧ-ਏਸ਼ੀਆਈ, ਇਸਲਾਮੀ, ਅਫ਼ਗਾਨ, ਸਿੱਖ ਅਤੇ ਬਰਤਾਨਵੀ ਤੱਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜੋੜਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਕਸ਼ਿਲਾ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਭਰਤ (ਰਾਮ ਦਾ ਭਰਾ) ਦੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਤਕਸ਼ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਥਾਪਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। ਇੱਥੇ ਦੁਨੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਪੁਰਾਣੀ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ, ਤਕਸ਼ਿਲਾ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ, ਸੀ ਜਿਸਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਅਧਿਆਪਕ ਮਹਾਨ ਵੇਦੀ ਵਿਚਾਰਕ ਅਤੇ ਸਿਆਸਤਦਾਨ ਚਾਣਕ ਸੀ। ਤਕਸ਼ਿਲਾ ਮੌਰੀਆ ਸਾਮਰਾਜ ਦੇ ਵੇਲੇ ਵਿੱਦਿਅਕ ਅਤੇ ਬੌਧਿਕ ਚਰਚਾ ਦਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਵੱਡਾ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸੀ। ਹੁਣ ਇਹ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਵਿਰਾਸਤ ਟਿਕਾਣਾ ਹੈ।

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅਤੇ ਕਈ ਫ਼ਾਰਸੀ ਸਾਮਰਾਜਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਦਾ ੳਹ ਸਮਾਂ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਮਹੱਤਵ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ ਇਸਦੇ ਕੁੱਝ ਹਿਸੇ ਜਾਂ ਤਾਂ ਸਾਮਰਾਜ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਰਲ਼ ਗਏ ਜਾਂ ਫ਼ਾਰਸੀ ਬਾਦਸ਼ਾਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਟੈਕਸਾਂ ਦੇ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਬਦਲੇ ਅਜ਼ਾਦ ਇਲਾਕੇ ਬਣੇ ਰਹੇ। ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਸਦੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ, ਜਦੋਂ ਫ਼ਾਰਸੀ ਮੁਗ਼ਲ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਬਣ ਗਈ, ਫ਼ਾਰਸੀ ਵਾਸਤੂਕਲਾ, ਕਵਿਤਾ, ਕਲਾ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਗੀਤ ਖੇਤਰ ਦੇ ਸੱਭਿਆਚਾਰ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਅਨਿੱਖੜਵਾਂ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਸਨ। ਮੱਧ 19ਵੀ ਸਦੀ 'ਚ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ਾਂ ਦੇ ਆਉਣ ਤੱਕ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਦਫ਼ਤਰੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਫ਼ਾਰਸੀ ਸੀ ਜਿਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਇਹ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਕਰ ਦਿਤੀ ਗਈ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਉਰਦੂ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਗਈ।

ਪ੍ਰਾਚੀਨ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ
ਪ੍ਰਾਚੀਨ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਭੂਗੋਲਿਕ ਹੱਦਾਂ ਤੇ ਸਰਹੱਦਾਂ ਦੋ ਦਰਿਆਵਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਚੱਲਦੀਆਂ ਆਈਆਂ ਹਨ: ਪੂਰਬ (ਚੜ੍ਹਦੇ) ਵੱਲ ਜਮਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਪੱਛਮ (ਲਹਿੰਦੇ) ਵੱਲ ਸਿੰਧ ਦਰਿਆ। ਸਾਂਝੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਹੱਦਬੰਦੀ ਤੈਅ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੋ ਦਰਿਆਵਾਂ ਦਰਮਿਆਨ ਪੰਜ ਦਰਿਆ ਵਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ।

ਜਿਹਲਮ
ਝਨਾਂ
ਰਾਵੀ
ਬਿਆਸ
ਸਤਲੁਜ

ਸਪਤ-ਸਿੰਧੂ
ਸੱਤਾਂ ਦਰਿਆਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਇਹ ਧਰਤੀ ਸਪਤ-ਸਿੰਧੂ ਕਹਾਉਂਦੀ ਸੀ। ਸਮੇਂ ਦੇ ਫੇਰ ਨਾਲ ਇਹ ਵਿਸ਼ਾਲ ਸੂਬਾ ਪੰਜ-ਨਦੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਿਮਟ ਕੇ ਪੰਜ-ਨਦ ਅਖਵਾਇਆ, ਜੋ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਆਮਦ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ‘ਪੰਜ-ਆਬ’ ਬਣ ਗਿਆ। ਸੰਨ 1947 ਈਸਵੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਹ ਢਾਈ- ਢਾਈ ਨਦੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੰਡਿਆ ਗਿਆ। ਲਹਿੰਦੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਜਲਧਾਰਾ ਹਿੱਸੇ ਸਿਆਲਕੋਟ, ਲਾਹੌਰ ਤੇ ਮਿੰਟਗੁਮਰੀ ਦੇ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹੇ ਅਤੇ ਬਹਾਵਲਪੁਰ ਦੀ ਰਿਆਸਤ ਆ ਗਏ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਲੋਕ-ਗੀਤਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਬੋਲਦੀ ਅਤੇ ਅਜ਼ੀਮ ਸ਼ਹਾਦਤਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜੀ [ਰਾਵੀ] ਵੀ ਵੰਡੀ ਗਈ।

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਪੰਜ ਡਵੀਜ਼ਨਾਂ
ਬਟਵਾਰੇ ਵੇਲੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਪੰਜ ਡਵੀਜ਼ਨਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਉੱਣਤੀ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹੇ ਸਨ।

ਅੰਬਾਲਾ ਡਵੀਜ਼ਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਗੁੜਗਾਉਂ, ਰੋਹਤਕ, ਕਰਨਾਲ, ਹਿਸਾਰ, ਸ਼ਿਮਲਾ ਅਤੇ ਅੰਬਾਲਾ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਸਨ। #ਜਲੰਧਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੁਸ਼ਿਆਰਪੁਰ, ਜਲੰਧਰ, ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ, ਫ਼ਿਰੋਜ਼ਪੁਰ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਂਗੜਾ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਸਨ।
ਲਾਹੌਰ ਡਵੀਜ਼ਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਲਾਹੌਰ, ਗੁਜਰਾਂਵਾਲਾ, ਸ਼ੇਖੂਪੁਰਾ, ਸਿਆਲਕੋਟ, ਗੁਰਦਾਸਪੁਰ ਅਤੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਛੇ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹੇ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਸਨ।
ਰਾਵਲਪਿੰਡੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੇਹਲਮ, ਗੁਜਰਾਤ, ਰਾਵਲਪਿੰਡੀ, ਅਟਕ, ਸ਼ਾਹਪੁਰਾ ਅਤੇ ਮੀਆਂਵਾਲੀ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹੇ ਸਨ। #ਮੁਲਤਾਨ ਡਵੀਜ਼ਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਲਾਇਲਪੁਰ, ਝੰਗ, ਮੁਲਤਾਨ, ਮੁਜ਼ੱਫ਼ਰਗੜ੍ਹ ਅਤੇ ਡੇਰਾ ਗਾਜ਼ੀ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਸਨ।







Punjab State Information

Capital : Chandigarh

Districts :20

Languages : Punjabi, Hindi
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Introduction to Punjab

Punjab, the land of five rivers, has land with prosperity. The plains of Punjab, with their fertile soil and abundant water supply, are naturally suited to be the breadbasket for India. The land of Punjab is a land of exciting culture. The state has achieved tremendous growth over the years due to the success of the Green Revolution in the early 70s. For a major period in the second half of the 20th century, Punjab led the other states in India to achieve self-sufficiency in crop production. The current state of Punjab was formed in 1966, the state was organized into three smaller states - Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh

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Geography of Punjab

Punjab extends from the latitudes 29.30° North to 32.32° North and longitudes 73.55° East to 76.50° East. It is bounded on the west by Pakistan, on the north by Jammu and Kashmir, on the northeast by Himachal Pradesh and on the south by Haryana and Rajasthan. Due to the presence of a large number of rivers, most of the Punjab is a fertile plain. The southeast region of the state is semi-arid and gradually presents a desert landscape. A belt of undulating hills extends along the northeastern part of the state at the foot of the Himalayas.

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Brief History of Punjab

Punjab is said to have derived its name from the five rivers that flow through this region - Indus, Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and Ghaggar. It was a region that formed parts of the Indus Valley civilization. The Aryans settled in this region in about 1500 B.C. It was in about 900 B.C. that the battle of Kurukshetra mentioned in the Epic Mahabharata was believed to have taken place in Kurukshetra. During this period the region formed small principalities ruled by chieftains. In 326 B.C. Alexander the Great of Macedonia invaded Punjab. After this was the rule of Chandragupta Maurya that lasted till about 1st century A.D. By 318 A.D. the Gupta dynasty exercised their influence. The Huns followed them in about 500 A.D. By 1000 A.D., the Muslims invaded Punjab led by Mahmud of Ghazni. In 1030 A.D., the Rajputs gained control of this territory. During the Sultanate period and Mughal rule, Punjab was engaged in intermittent warfare. In about 1192 A.D. the Ghoris defeated the Chauhans and ruled until the establishment of the Mughal rule. Guru Gobind Singh (1661-1708 AD) created the Khalsa, an army of saint-warriors who rose up against the ferocity perpetrated by the Mugals. The Sikhs carried on their struggle and after the fall of Banda Bahadur, they established themselves as sovereign rulers of the greater part of the Punjab. From the misals evolved the government of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1778-1839). He was the first independent native Indian ruler after the centuries of slavery. His reign, though not long, is significant because of its concept of dharma entwined with the practice of secularism. In the early, 19th century the British established their influence. After independence this region witnessed mass migration and distribution of property. In 1947 when India was partitioned, the larger half of Punjab went to Pakistan.

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Government of Punjab

Sardar Prakash Singh Badal is the present Chief Minister of Punjab

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Districts of Punjab


Punjab has 20 districts:
Amritsar                 Bhatinda         Faridkot   
Fatehgarh-Sahib         Ferozepur        Gurdaspur     
Hoshiarpur                     Jalandhar           Kapurthala     
Ludhiana                Mansa                Moga     
Mohali                        Muktsar         Nawanshehar
Pathankot               Patiala         Rupnagar     
Sangrur                   tarn-taaran


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Economy of Punjab


The state has number of small, medium and large-scale industrial units. Major Industries in the state include metals, manufacturing textiles, hosiery, yarn, sports goods, hand tools, bicycles, and light engineering goods. The areas of industrial thrust include agro-industry, electronics, dairy industry, pharmaceutical Industry and white goods industry. Agriculture is the mainstay of Punjab's economy. The state contributes 80 percent of wheat and 43 percent of rice to the national exchequer. The other major reason for the prosperity of the state are the great number of people who left their home for the countries in Europe and North America and, after long struggles, achieved successes there.

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Punjab Travel Information


The most important tourist center in the state is Amritsar with its Golden Temple. This temple is considered to be the holiest of all the pilgrimages of Sikhism and houses Akal Takht, the supreme governing body of Sikhism. The Jalianwallah Bagh is a small park in the city where the British police massacred many pilgrims in the year 1919. Wagah is the only open land point between India and Pakistan. The Changing of Guards and the ceremonial lowering of the flags ceremony at sundown are great tourist attractions and have their own symbolic importance.

Ludhiana is famous for its hosiery and woolen goods and products from Ludhiana are exported all over the world. For its production of hosiery, Ludhiana is also known as the Manchester of India. It also boasts of the world famous Punjab Agricultural University, which organizes the Kisan Mela every Year. Nearby is Killa Raipur, which is famous for its Rural Olympics. Patiala is famous for its healthy food, loving people, wonderful parandaas, exciting Patiala peg and jootis. Easily accessible and well maintained, Patiala is a place that would give one the much-needed tranquility far from urban chaos. The Sports School and the Moti Bagh Palace are some of the places that one must visit to get a clear picture of the past of the state. Chandigarh is the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. The city is considered to be a Mecca of modern architecture and planning all over the world. What makes Chandigarh extraordinary is the fact that within four decades, a barren landscape has been transformed into a modern and model human habitation. Jalandhar is an ancient city but not much of its evidence is left now. Today, it is a major rail and road junction and an army cantonment.

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Rivers of Punjab

The word "Punjab" is a combination of the Persian words 'Punj' Five, and 'Aab' Water, giving the literal meaning of the Land of the Five Rivers. The five rivers after which Punjab is named after are the Jhelum; the Chenab; the Ravi; the Beas and the Sutlej - all of them are the tributaries of the Indus river.

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Education in Punjab

Punjab is served by leading institutes of excellence in higher education. All the major arts, humanities, science, engineering, law, medicine, veterinary science, and business courses are offered, leading to first degrees as well as postgraduate awards. Advanced research is conducted in all major areas of excellence. Punjab Agriculture University is one of world's leading authorities in agriculture. Major universities of Punjab are Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar; Punjabi University, Patiala; Panjab University, Chandigarh; Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana; Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar; Punjab Medical University, Faridkot and Punjab Veternary Sciences University, Talwandi Sabo. Punjab also has many institutes of repute such as National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar and Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala

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Food of Punjab

The Punjabis are known for their rich foods. Predominantly wheat eating people, the Punjabis cook rice only on special occasions. Nans and parathas, rotis made of corn flour (makke di roti) are their typical breads. Milk and its products in the form of malai (cream), paneer (cottage cheese), butter and curds are always used with almost every Punjabi meal. The main masala in Punjabi dish consists of onion, garlic, ginger and a lot of tomatoes fried in pure ghee. Spices like coriander, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, red chili powder, turmeric and mustard are regularly used. Chicken especially 'Tandoori Chicken' is a favourite with non-vegetarians as paneer is in the vegetarian Punjabi menu. Mah ki Dal, Sarson Ka Saag, meat curry like Roghan Josh and stuffed parathas can be found in no other state except Punjab.

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Arts & Culture of Punjab

A majority of the people in this state is of Aryan origin. A large part of the population follows Sikhism, which has visible effects of Hinduism and some effect of Islam. Punjabi is the state language, quite similar to Hindi. Most famous of the craft traditions of Punjab is phullkari. The word phullkari means flowering and it does exactly that - creates a flowery surface with the simplest of tools, a needle and a silken thread, and a high degree of skill. The phullkari pattern revolves around a single stitch, the darn stitch. At Kartarpur, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur, craftsmen and women create pidhis (low, four legged woven stools), which are both artistic and of immense utility in the day-to-day life. Color, beauty and utility combine yet again to form the central theme of the well-known leather jootis (shoes and slippers) of Punjab. The enterprising women of Punjab weave durries (a pileless cotton spread, which can be used to spread on a bed or the floor). Girls are taught the art of weaving durries at a young age. The durries are woven in different sizes, and patterns - geometrical, animals, birds, leaves and flowers-and colors. Nikodar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Tarn Taran and Anandpur Sahib offer a vast variety of durries to buyers. Another important craft of Punjab is the art of doll making, especially the Punjabi bride and the bhangra dolls. Colorful and beautifully crafted and dressed, dolls are made all over Punjab, though the most important center is Chandigarh.

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Dance & Music of Punjab

The folk songs of Punjab are the songs of the body and soul. The joyous flight of birds, starry nights, sunny days and thundering clouds, signifying happiness and joy, are all reflected in folk songs. So ageless are these songs that no one can claim their creation. Punjab is the only place where the dances for men and women are not the same and are of varying forms. While the dances for men are the bhangra, jhoomer, luddi, julli and dankara, the ones for women are the giddha and kikli.

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Festivals of Punjab

The festivals in Punjab have always been celebrated with much exuberance and fanfare. For the masses these festivals are popular occasions for social interaction and enjoyment. Punjab being a predominantly agricultural state that prides itself on its food grain production, it is little wonder that its most significant festival is Baisakhi, which marks the arrival of the harvesting season. For the Sikhs, Baisakhi has a special significance because on this day in 1699, their tenth guru, Guru Govind Singh organized the Order of the Khalsa. T

The Gurpurab festival is celebrated by the Sikhs to express their reverence for their gurus. Two major Gurpurabs are celebrated during the year. The first in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov) to celebrate the teachings of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, and the second in the month of Pausa (December-January) to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Govind Singh. On all Gurpurabs, non-stop recital of the granth sahib and religious discourses are held. Langars (free meals) are served to all without distinction of caste or creed.

A day after Holi, the Sikh community in Punjab observes Holla Mohalla with thousands of devout Sikhs gathering at Anandpur Sahib-where Guru Gobind Singh was baptized-to participate in the grand fair of Holla Mohalla. The whole place wears a festive look, processions are taken out, and the people participate in the festivities with gaiety and fervor. Tika is celebrated in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov.) one day after Diwali. Women put a tika of saffron and rice grains on the foreheads of their brothers, to protect them from evil. Like most other festivals of Punjab, Lohri too is a festival related to the seasons. Celebrated in the month of January, it marks the end of the winter season. A huge bonfire is made in every house and the fire god is worshipped.

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Costumes of Punjab

The most common attire of Sikh men folk is a long kurta (shirt) with baggy trousers drawn in at the ankle. Most unique identification of a Sikh man is his turban and his beard. Women of the state also wear almost the same dress known as the salwar kurta along with a dupatta (long stole).
 

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Pj Pari & gallery team work

Desi Jatti!!!!!!!!!

Sat shri akal sab nuuuuuu mera valiii pyar bharii

ik vari fir aa gayi tuhade sir kha layiii  :he: :he: :he:

mera kolo ik new sugg haii.......

ki tusieeeee forum de vichhh ik new section ban sakde hooo.... abt punjabi culture????

cuz mera kolo hor vi topics neee.... punjabi culture bare.... but knowlegdeeeeee vale topic vichhh.... mai pa sakdiii haiii buttt... othe 2 ja 3 page ta chale jane firrrr users nu kiwe pata lagu gaya?????

cuz gs ne ik varii keha cccc ki aa site aapp punjabiii di real lyf bare bani haii........

i dont know how to explain uu??? i hope tusie samjha gaye ho va gayeeeeee mai ki kehna mangdi haiiiiiii


pj pari

desi jatti!!!!!!!!!