Punjab, a Northwestern state of India is known as the ‘land of five rivers’. The Punjabi community here is respected for their rich culture and beliefs. The green agricultural fields represent a land pulsating with wealth and prosperity. Honesty is their known characteristic whereas they are respected for their generosity as well. They believe that it is vital to share their hard earnings with the poor and needy without demanding anything in return. They consider their guests as representatives sent by the almighty. They are proud about the fact that their culture is the richest and among the oldest in the world.

The sophistication and complexity of the Punjabi culture has impressed various scholars that motivated them to spend years on research to explore it. There are renowned personalities from this community in the fields of spirituality, education, poetry, artistry, science, technology, architecture, music, etc. The essence of the culture is wide spread nowadays as the people from this state reside in various parts of the world. The history of this culture is so vast that it makes it highly superior to those of others. The myriad images of green fields should never put you under the impression that the scope here is limited to agriculture. The place is being recognized as a platform for endless opportunities for investment. The number of small and medium scale industries instigated in the recent years goes as high as approximately two lakhs along with the hundreds of large scale industries in existence. This shows that this culture is open to progressive changes to enhance the economical status of the people.

Similar to the culture, Punjabi language too has an ancient origin. It has been influenced by various rich traditions across the globe giving rise to a proper dialect. There are two major scripts for this language named ‘Shahmukhi’ and ‘Gurmukhi’ in which the latter is commonly used. The language is tonal with three major tones which are represented in writing with the help of voice aspirated consonants and intervocal. The musical art form of the region named ‘Bhangra’ is increasingly being listened to and has already influenced various Western musicians. Punjabi festivals are known for their zest and enthusiastic celebrations. Sikhism, a peaceful religion with strong morals is practiced by the people here. Even if they are spread throughout the world, this community unites together at least through the online venture like Punjabi forum.

The major festivals celebrated by the people of Punjab are Holi, Lohri, Maghi, Diwali, Gurparav, Tika and Basant Panchami. Most of the dance forms of this community characterize extensive energy levels. These are usually performed during the major events, festivals and weddings. They are adamant that they follow the customs during their weddings so that you would find the essence of their tradition in the rituals. Today, the popularity of their cuisines is spread throughout the world that people invest in this industry even in Western countries. The aroma and taste of pure butter and ghee used would mesmerize you. If you are a Punjabi, it is a must for you to join an online forum to share your thoughts about your community with other members.



Goldy Ahlawat is the author of this article on Punjabi. Find more information on Punjabi Forum here