Punjab is located in thenorthwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Present-day Punjab came intoexistence, post the partition of Punjab Province between India and Pakistan inthe British era. Punjab has a history that dates back to some of the earliestcivilizations that have existed on earth like the Indus Valley and Harappancivilization. Also, owing to its strategic location and fertility, it proved tobe a great area for settlement for the foreign invaders – Greeks, Turks,Mughals. However, the downfall of the Mughal Empire saw the emergence ofSikhism in the region and today it dominates the entire Punjab. Punjab ishistorically very famous for its stories of valor, brevity, and sacrifice bythe martyrs. Also, Punjab and its people are very well known for theiraffection, mouth-watering and spicy food, colorful festivals, Gurudwaras, andtheir rituals and traditions.
So what makes Punjab unique? Let's take a look:
Punjab – the Name
The very first unique fact aboutPunjab is its name. The word Punjab derives its origin from the synthesis oftwo Persian words ‘Panj’ meaning five and ‘aab’ meaning water. Therefore,Punjab means – the land of five rivers, namely – Rabi, Indus, Jhelum, Beas, andSutlej.
From a Province to a State
The second unique fact aboutPunjab is that pre-partition of 1947, it was called the Punjab Province – thelargest state and post partition, it was divided with not just another state;with another country – Pakistan, into two parts – Indian Punjab and PakistaniPunjab.
History of civilization
With one of the most fertile soilbelts around the banks of river Indus, Punjab s the one unique state whichshows the historical presence of the earliest civilizations – Indus valley andHarappan civilizations.
A Part of Two States
The Punjab as we know it, cameinto existence on 31st October 1966, with Himachal and Haryana being segregatedas two different states. Chandigarh is a Capital of both Punjab and Haryana andis also a U.T. no other state has such a unique capital.
Origin and Cradle of Sikh Empire
Guru Nanak DevJi received Hisenlightenment and laid the foundation for Sikhism in the late 15th century.Punjab has the largest Sikh population in the world. The Sikh Empire flourishedunder the valiant rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1799. His reign marked themost prosperous and positive era with architectural miracles and a very stableeconomy. However, it came to a close in 1849.
People and Population
The state of Punjab covers around50,362 sq. km. of area. And has a population of 27 million. The Sikh men are believed to be brave andvery open-hearted. The people of Punjab are overall very hospitable andaffectionate and most importantly they are connected to their roots and theirtradition no matter how modern times get!
Home of the Holiest Sikh Shrine
Harmandir Sahib, better known asthe Golden Temple is located centrally in Amritsar – the holy city of Punjab.The temple was designed by the fifth Sikh guru – Guru ArjanDev while the GoldenDome over the Gurudwara was built by Raja Ranjit Singh. It is one of the mostpious Sikh pilgrimage places.
Capital of Sikh Pilgrimage
According to Sikhism, there are atotal of five Takht( seating of God). Three out of these five are located inPunjab. Akal Takht is enshrined in the Golden Temple premises, while Takht SriDamdama Sahib is in Bhatinda, with Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib.The other two remaining ones are TakhtSri Patna Sahib in Patna, Bihar and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra,respectively.
Punjabi Dance and Music
Of course! The traditional dancesof Punjab – Bhangra, Giddha, Jhumar, Mirza, Jugni, Dhamaal, Gatka are funfilledand very hep! Equally melodious is the Punjabi music – Sufi or with Dhol Beats.No matter what the celebration- dance and music is a must for Punjabis.
The Great Granary of India
Due to the presence of so manyrivers, Punjab is blessed with fertile soil. This is why it is an essentialcontributor to the production of the staple crops of wheat and rice, 17% and11% respectively. Agriculture is thelargest industry in the state and about 84% of the land is under cultivation.
Martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh
How can one forget the brutalityat JallianwalaBagh at Amritsar? Several were massacred by the cold-hearted massshootout ordered by general Dyre on the fateful day of April 13, 1919. Morethan 1500 innocent lives were lost and a lot of moire families were tornapart! More than unique, the place givesyou goosebumps when you think of the atrocities!
The Unique Ceremony
The Wagah-Attari border ceremonyhappens two hours before sunset everyday day. A marching ceremony, known as the"Silly Walk ceremony", is performed along with the flag ceremony bythe Pakistan Ranger and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF). It is indeed asight to watch! Post the partition of Punjab in 1947, Attari is a village thathas been retained with Punjab while Wagah belonged to Pakistan.
Demand for a Separate Country
The 1970s and 1980s witnessed theKhalistan movement or the Sikh separatist movement, in Punjab which tore thestate apart. Sikh militants were killed and imprisoned by the Indian Army,which led to bloody riots. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was blamed to be theinfluence behind the increase in Sikh militancy in the 1980s, which led to actsof outrage and assassination of the then Prime Minister of India, Mrs. IndiraGandhi.
Prominent Personalities
Many great personalities havetheir roots in the soil of Punjab. Not just actors like Akshay Kumar, GippyGrewal,DiljitDosanjh but also sportspersons like Udham Singh Singh (Hockey Player),Yuvraj Singh, Kapil Dev. They have done wonders even in politics – ManmohanSingh, Zail Singh (7th President of India), Navjot Singh Sidhuare a few of suchstalwarts. Famous singing legends –Chamkeela, Gurdas Mann, Babuu Mann are of Punjabi origin. The popularcomedian Kapil Sharma is from Amritsar. People of Punjab are not just talented,but they have the zeal and the zest to pursue that talent and make it theirattribute, in any field – sports, drama, business.
World Famous Cuisines
Punjabi Cuisine has flavors todie for! Pickles, Lassi, Parathas(Flatbreads), kulcha, Rajma, Kadhi, ChickenTikka, Tandoori Dishes, - whether it is appetizers or main course or dessert –Punjabi cuisine is irresistible. In sweets also, PanjeriLadoo, Halwa, and theKadaPrashad- you can just not stop eating! Needless to say, Punjabis have madetheir cuisine famous across the globe with their twist of desi ghee!
Global Punjabis
Punjabis love to carry theirPunjabiness wherever they go. That is why today, they form the major ethnicgroups in Canada, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, New Zealand, UnitedStates, France, Italy, Spain, Dubai, etc. 2% of the Canadian population is justPunjabis!
Punjabi – Language
The language of the Punjabis isvery unique. It sets them apart from the rest of India. The language has beendeveloped from the unique Gurmukhi script and has a typical accent of its own.When they talk in Punjabi, Punjabis feel at home.
Colorful Festivals
A festival is incomplete withoutPunjabis! Their enthusiasm and spirit know no bounds! They know how to be happyand celebrate no matter what the festival is. The main unique festivals ofPunjab include -Vaisakhi), Lohri, Holi,Maghi, Teej, etc. Mixed with dance and music, Punjabis love to enjoy thefestivals with great food.