Punjabi culture

Punjabi culture, History, Geography, Punjabi Cuisine, Arts and crafts, Punjabi clothing, Punjabi cultural festivals, Punjabi Dances, Punjabi sports, Punjabi literature, Punjabi wedding

1. Punjabi Culture (Culture) Punjabi Culture is one of the oldest in world history, dating from ancient antiquity to the modern era. The scope, history, complexity and density of the culture are vast. Some of the main areas of the Punjabi culture include: Punjabi cuisine, philosophy, poetry, artistry, music, architecture, traditions and values and history.

2. Details :- Languages: Punjabi Poet: Baba Farid,12th-13th century.Bulleh Shah,17th-18th century Sufi Poet: Bulleh Shah Area: 205,344 km² Sports: Cricket,Gatka,Kabaddi,Hockey,Footbal Famous Singers: Abrar-ul-Haq,Jawad Ahmad,Humera Arshad Festivals : Maghi,Lohri , Basant Festival,Holi , Vaisakhi,Rakhri Dances: Bhangra,luddi , sammi,Jhumar,Dhama

3. History :- Historically, the Punjab region has been part of Sindu Sapta the term meaning (7 Rivers) but in the course of time southern Sindh was shrieked to a small province and Punjab became a larger and more prosperous region of the area. The word Punjab was introduced by the by the Mughals in the 17th Century AD. It is a combination of the Persian words panj (five) and (water), thus the (land of) five rivers. The five rivers which flow thru Punjab are the tributaries of the Indus River namely Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej and Sindhu river itself

4. Geography :- Punjab of Pakistan has an area of 205,344 km2 (79,284 sq mi) it is the 2nd largest province after  Balochistan  and is located at the northwestern edge of the geologic Indian plate in South Asia. The province is bordered by Azad Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the province of Sindh to the south, the province of Balochistan to the southwest, the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the west, and the Islamabad Capital Territory to the north.

5. Punjabi Cuisine :- The extensive cuisine of Punjab can be vegetarian and non-vegetarian. One commonality between all Punjabi dishes is the liberal usage of ghee or clarified butter spices and Punjabis are fond of sweet-meats also. Most Punjabi food is eaten with either rice or roti. There are some dishes that are exclusive to Punjab such as Mah Di Dal, Paratha , Makai ki rotti , Saron Da Saag , and in cities Choley , Haleem , Baryani and other spicy dishes are popular During summers people drink lassi , doodh -soda, aloo bokharey ka sharbat , lemonade etc . In beverages, tea is consumed in all seasons and as a custom most of Punjabis serve tea to their guests.

6. Arts and Crafts :- Punjab is the major manufacturing industry in Pakistan’s economy and here each art enjoys a place of its own. The main crafts created in the highlands and other rural areas of Punjab are basketry, pottery, which are famous for their modern and traditional designs all over the world and are included in the best formations of Punjabis. bone work, textile, cloth woven on handlooms with stunning prints is embroidered in the rural-areas and the weavers produce colorful cloths like cotton,silk etc. embroidery, weaving, carpets, stone craft, jewelry, metal work along with truck art and other wood works. The craft of Punjab is its fundamental soul and its craft create its entity.

7. punjabi Colothing :- Punjabi Phulkari Kurta A Phulkari kurta is emroidered using the Phulkari embroidery of the Punjab region Punjabi Bandhani kurta Bandhani tye -dyeing is popular in the Cholistan desert area of the Punjab region. Bandhani patterns are used on kurtas Punjabi Ghagra The Punjabi ghagra was the traditional apparel for women before the advent of the Punjabi suit.It is still worn in parts of the Punjab region and the outfit comprises the head scarf, kurta / kurti , suthan / salwar and the ghagra Pothohari Suit Another style of the Punjabi suit is the use of the salwar which hails from the Pothohar region of Punjab, Pakistan and is known as the Pothohari salwar . The kameez is also wide. The head scarf is traditionally large

8. Punjabi Phulkari Kurta Punjabi Bandhani kurta Punjabi Ghagra Pothohari Suit

9. Cultural Festival :- There are numerous festivals which are celebrated by Punjabi people including some religious festivals such as Eid - Milad -Un- Nabi , Jumu’ah ,  Laylat-ul-Qadr  etc. Urcs (devotional fairs),which are held at the shirnes of sufi saints, Melas and Nomaish (exhibitions).The Provincial capital Lahore is widely popular for its entertaining events and activities. Lahori’s are famous all over the country for their celebrations particularly for Basant festival (kite flying) in the spring season. Other festivals celebrated in Punjab region include Baisakhi , Teej , Kanak Katai etc.

10. Pakistani Punjabi Traditional Dances 1.Bhangra :- Bhangra is a free form traditional dance orginating in punjab.it involves simple dance moves,you just have to raising the arms above the shoulders and start moving your body.

11. Bhangra :-

12. 2.Luddi :- Luddi also referred as a punjabi form of dance.It is mostly done by the women of family of different occasions.

13. Luddi Dance :-

14. 3.Sammi :- Sammi is orginated from the tribal communities of punjab.This dance is popular in sandalbar area of punjab and performs by the women of bazigar,Rai,Lobana and sansi Tribes.

15. 4.Jumar :- Jumar or jhoomar is the traditional saraiki folk dance.The word"Jhumar " comes from jhum / jhoom,which means swaying.It is one of the liveliest frroms of music and dance that orginated in the  multan  and balochistan , also thrived in Sandalbar areas of punjab in Pakistan.

16. 5.Dhammal :- dhammal is performed by at Sufi Shrines and Darghas Throughout Punjab in addition to Sindh.

17. Sports :- Punjabi people have fanatical interest in sports. Punjabi’s are fond of kabaddi , and wrestling, which is also popular in other parts of  Pakistan  and it’s also played on national level. Other games being played in Punjab region include Gilli-Danda , Khoo-Khoo , Yassu-Panju , Pitho-Garam , Ludo , Chuppan-Chupai , Baraf-Panni , Kanchy and some major sports include cricket, boxing, horse-racing, hockey and football. National Horse and Cattle Show at Lahore is the biggest festival where sports, exhibitions, and livestock competitions are held.

18. Historical Places :- Shalimar Garden,Wazir khan Mosque,Tomb of Jhangir,Rohtas Fort,Lahore fort,Badshahi   Mosque,Minar -e- PakistanTaxila Museum,Derawar Fort,Kallar Kahar,Katas Raj,khewara Salt Mines.

19. Tourist Places :-

20. Village Life :- Village life in Punjab depicts a true picture of our culture.Punjabi Villagers are very traditional people who are hard workers. They wake up early in the morning with the Fajar prayers and start working in the fields. They work all day long in the field under the sun without caring about the harsh weather. This is the only way for them to earn their livelihood.

21. They live  in an environment which is surrounded by green orchids and lush crop fields. There are beautiful flowing streams and ponds. People live in a very well knit community; they help and solve each other’s problems. The elders have great respect and in the evening they gather together in village “ chopal ” (a community meeting held every day) and discuss their village problems, which mainly surround the water distribution from a mohga (water outlet from a main stream), good or bad crop during the season and some petty matters of biradris . The discussions in a chopal though full of opposite views and dissensions too, yet at the end there is a more amicable end as in every matter the izzat of the village is and should remain supreme in every village dweller’s eyes. Then there will be discussion about lack of basic amenities, they don’t have proper drinking water, no schools and colleges and somewhere even no sewerage system at all. Some villages really need attention so that they can move on the road to progress.

22. Punjab Village View

23. Literature Punjab is very rich with literature and Sufis adds more in its literature. Punjabi poetry is renowned for its extremely deep meaning, beautiful and hopeful use of words. The large number of Punjabi poetry is being translated throughout the world into many languages. Some famous poets of Punjabi are Sultan Bahu , Mia Mohammad Baksh , Baba Farid , Shah Hussain , Anwar Masood etc. Waris Shah, whose contribution to Punjabi literature is best-known for his seminal work in Heer Ranjha , known as Shakespeare of Punjabi language.   Bulleh Shah was a Punjabi Sufi poet, a humanist and a philosopher. The verse from Bulleh Shah primarily employed is called the Kafi , a style of Punjabi. Some other popular folk tales of Punjab include Sassi-Punnu , Sohni Mahiwal etc. that are passing through generations. Sassi punnu

24. Sufi Poet :- Bulleh Shah , one of the most acclaimed Sufi poets of Punjab was a humanist and a philosopher. His poetry represents him as someone providing solutions to the sociological problems of the world as he lived through it, describing the turbulence his motherland Punjab was passing through, while concurrently searching for God. Bulleh Shah poetry also highlights his mystical spiritual voyage through the four stages of Sufism: Shariat (Path), Tariqat (Observance), Haqiqat (Truth) and Maarfat (Union). The simplicity with which Bulleh Shah has been able to address the complex fundamental issues of life and humanity is a large part of his appeal. Thus, many people have put his kafis to music, from humble street-singers to renowned Sufi singers like  Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan , Pathanay Khan, Abida Parveen , the Waddali Brothers and Sain Zahoor , from the synthesized techno qawwali remixes of UK-based Asian artists to the Pakistani rock band Junoon

25. Punjabi Weddings :- Punjabi weddings are based on traditions and are conducted with strong reflection of the Punjabi culture followed by several pre-wedding customs and rituals ( dholki,mayun,ubtan etc.)Punjabi weddings are very loud, energetic, full of music,colors , fancy-dresses, food and dancing. Punjabi weddings have many customs and ceremonies that have evolved since traditional times. In cities the wedding are celebrated following a blend of modern and traditional customs and the ceremony generally lasts for 3days, Mehndi , Barat ( Nikkah+Ruksati ) and Walima , followed by Chauti (bringing the bride back to her parents’ home the next day).

26. Birth Rituals :- Punjabis celebrate birth of their child with great enthusiasm. Grandfather or grandmother or some respected elder member from the family puts honey with their index finger in child’s mouth called Ghutii . Sweets are distributed among friends and relatives and people bring gifts for the child and mother. Generally on 7thday child’s head is shaven and Aqiqa ceremony is held, also sheep/goat is slaughtered Funeral Rituals At funerals after namaz -e- janaza it is customary to offer lunch to people who came for condolence. On 3rdday of the funeral, Qul is held and every following thursday the Quran is recited ( jumah -e- raat ) followed by prayers for deceased and after 40days the chaliswaan is held . Some families observe anniversaries yearly ( barsi ).There is no formal dress code for Punjabi funerals however people mostly wear shalwar kameez and casual clothing is observed.

27. CONCLUSION :- WE HAVE TRIED TO REPRESENT OUR PUNJABI CULTURE IN ITS PUREST FORM. BUT CULTURE IS MUCH MORE THAN FOOD,CLOTHING,FESTIVALS ETC.IT HAS A LOT OF DIVERDITY. THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS OF CULTURE NAMELY:NORMS ,VALUES,LANGUAGE AND CUSTOMS WHICH ARE A SOURCE OF PROUD GOR ITS FOLLOWERS. EVERY CULTURE IS UNIQUE AND HAS A GREAT SIGNIFICANCE WHICH CAN’T BE DENIED.

28. THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE OUR WHOLE PRESENTATION IN A FEW SENTENCES. IT’S PRETTY OKAY TO FOLLOW DIFFERENT CULTURES AND MAKE EVERY PSSIBLE EFFORT TO PROMOTE THEM.BUT AS A FOLLLOWER OF A SPECIFIC CULTURE WE MUST FOLLOW THE APPROACH OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM NOT OF ETHNOCENTROCISM .AS GEORGE ORWELL HAS SAID: “ HAPPINESS CANT EXIST ONLY IN ACCEPTANCE.” WE MUST ACCEPT ECACHOTHER’S CULTURAL EHNICITY AND EMBRACE OUR DIVERSITY. IN PAKISTAN,AS IT CONSISTS OF FOUR MAJOR EH=THNICITIES. THIS SMALL EFFORT WILL BE A ENORMOUS SOURCE OF NATIONAL INTEGRITY.AND AS A PAKISTANI,IT IS THE MAIN GOAL TO ACHEIEVE. AS MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID: “ WE MUST ACCEPT FINITE DISAPPOINTMENT ,BUT NEVER LOSE INFINITE HOPE”

29. I ALSO HOPE THAT ONE DAY WE WILL ALSO FEEL A TRUE SENSE OF PRIDE IN IDENTIFYING OURSELVES AS ONLY PAKISTANI. AS MARTIN LUTHER KING HAS SAID: “ I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDJED BY THE COLOR OE THAIR SKIN,BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.”