Traditions of Punjab
The culture of Punjab is the richest culture in the world. Punjabi songs are full of melody and energy. The dance styles of Punjab has more flavor with its bhangra, giddha, kikli and sammi.Bhangra” is one of the m ost famous dance forms of Punjab.
Tradition dress:
Traditional dress of people is Kurta-pyjama with turban for men. Women prefer Patiala suits as part of their traditional attire. There is a riot of colors in the pagdi-turban and phulkari dupattas, that comes out during the Baisakhi festival. The traditional dress of the Punjabis comprising of the salwar-kameez for women and lehenga-kurta with a waistcoast has many colors and styling. Turban styles can be explored and is compulsory for all Sikhs.
Art and craft
Punjabis are renowned for their interest in arts and crafts. Many phrases have decorative designs and handicrafts. Women used to weave woolen attire for everybody in the family. “Phulkari” is recognized worldwide for its intricate work.
Shawls in silk are carefully hand-woven using traditional motifs as designs. Other famous crafts of the region include lacquer work, wooden work, Calico painting, paper mache` and many more. Wooden furniture is beautifully crafted by artisans with exquisite craftsmanship.
Cuisine Of Punjab
The cuisine of Punjab has great variety of mouth-watering vegetarian as well as non vegetarian dishes. In Punjab, home cooking is different from the restaurant cooking style.
At the restaurants use desi ghee, butter and cream to make the food lip smacking and finger licking. On the other hand, at home, people prefer using sunflower oil or some other refined oil for cooking, with the basic idea of making the food low in fat content.
The main Traditional Punjabi food are – Sarson ka saag, Shahi paneer, Dal makhni, Rajma, Chole, Aloo, Chicken karahi, Chicken Tandori, makki di Roti, Naan, Phulka, Puri, Papad, Lassi, Kheer, rabri.
Folk Dances of Punjab
There are many folk music and dances which are hugely popular in Punjab and the rest of the country.
One of them is Bhangra which has also become immensely popular in the west. This dance form began many years ago when Punjabi farmers used to perform to welcome the harvest season. Giddha and Sammi, Luddhi and Dhamal are some other popular dances in the region. Punjabi music has become popular in Bollywood too. Punjabis are known for their revelry and music forms an essential part of it.
Language & Religions
The official language of the state is Punjabi, which is also the local language used for communication. Although there is only one local language, there are many dialects used diverse region to region. Some of the local dialects are Doabi, Ghebi, Malwai, Pahari, Shahpuri, Rachnavi, Hindko, etc. Interestingly the script for Punjabi language is Gurmukhi in India and Shahmukhi in Pakistan.
There are many religions which exist in Punjab. But the major population comprises in the Indian state of Punjab are of Hindus and Sikhs. In Hindus, Khatris are the most prominent, while Brahmin, Rajput and Baniya may also be found. The Sikh population is particularly high in the state owing to the origin of Sikhism. There are many Sikh religious centres in Punjab.