Punjab, a region in Northern India and the east side of Pakistan, has a long history and rich cultural heritage. It is bordered by Pakistan and the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir,Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.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, Egyptians, Afghans, and Mongols. Around the time of the 15th Century, Guru Nanak Dev founded the Sikh religion, which quickly came to prominence in the region, and shortly afterwards, Maharaja Ranjit Singh reformed the Punjab into a secular and powerful state. The 19th Century saw the beginning of British rule, which led to the emergence of several heroic Punjabi freedom fighters. In 1947, at the end of British rule, the Punjab was split between Pakistan and India. Many races of people and religions made up the cultural heritage of the Punjab. Punjab is the land where spiritual aspirations arise. This heroic land bore numerous invasions, and after all it`s suffering, did not entirely lose its glory and its strength. The Harappa civilization developed in Punjab and its culture spread to Iran, Afghanistan, Balochistan, and northwestern parts of South Asia.
 British intrution had political, cultural, philosophical and literary effects in the Punjab. The opening of a new system of education introduced a new spirit in the life of the Punjabis. More people realized the greatness of Punjabi culture. During the freedom movement, Punjab played a role worthy of its name. Many heroes emerged from the Punjab such as Lajpat Rai, Ajit Singh, Bhagat Singh, Uddham Singh, Bhal Parmanand and a host of others. Since independence, life in the Punjab proves to be tragic and traumatic. The partition resulted in riots and terror, which tore up millions of homes and destroyed many lives. The massive migration resulting from the newly formed state of Pakistan created problems of uncontrollable size. However, the Punjabi spirit of stubbornness and toughness continued the uprooted people. The disappointed people set to work with no self-pity to plough fresh fields. They built new industries and became well known in sports. Punjabis attained an important place in cultural, aesthetic, and literary work, and revived folk art, song, dance and drama. All of this has created a sense of pride and climate of involvement in the heritage of the Punjab.
History of Punjab
Punjab is the cradle of the Indus Valley Civilization, more than 4000 years old. Archaeological excavations, throughout the state, have revealed evidences of the magnificent cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro that lived and died along the banks of the mighty Indus and its tributaries. The Mahabharata, which narrates life between the 7th and 5th century BC, contains rich descriptions of the land and people of Punjab at that time. It is believed that parts of the Ramayana too, were written around the Shri Ram Tirath Ashram, near Amritsar; and it was in these forests that Lav and Kush grew up.
Other great historical discoveries have been unearthed at Ropar, Kiratpur, Dholbaha, Rohira and Ghuram. These relics throw light on the culture and changing architectural styles of Punjab, since the Harappan age. At Sanghol, in Fatehgarh Sahib district near Ludhiana, sites associated with great Mauryan Dynasty, have yielded remarkable relics that record the presence of Buddhism in the region.
Geography of Punjab
 Most of the Punjab is an alluvial plain, bounded by mountains to the North. Despite its dry conditions, it is a rich agricultural area due to the extensive irrigation made possible by the great river system traversing it. The Indian Punjab is the wealthiest state in the country per capita, with most of the revenue generated from agriculture. Punjab 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. Punjab extends from the latitudes 29.30° North to 32.32° North and longitudes 73.55° East to 76.50° East. 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.
People of Punjab
Enterprise and effort, these two words represent the essential spirit of the people of Punjab. Since Independence, over 5 decades, the state has earned its nickname: "of Granary India" through the enterprising spirit, and tireless labor of its people. Its average growth rate of 10% is amongst the highest in the country, clearly reflecting the progressive economy of the state. Punjab also boasts a 58% literacy rate and the highest percapita income in India. A glance into the lives and culture of the people of Punjab can be got through the folk expression of Punjab. There is a great range of music, right from the time of birth to death, of love and separation of dance and rejoicement, of marriage and fulfillment. Culturally Punjab can be divided into three regions, Malwa, Majha and Doaba. Today Malwa represents the true spirit of Punjabi folk traditions. The Punjabi fold expression is so rich, so varied and so very flexible. It is a culture of generous, vast, large-hearted people, which is devoid of any devotion, and religious narrow mindedness of ideology.
 Since the recent liberalization of India`s economy, Punjab has started making its mark on the global business typical, with major players from around the world forming joint ventures in the field of agri-business. Fortunate by nature and the enthusiasm of its people, Punjab is a land of rivers, fertile soils and steady achievement. With its unique style of transforming every possible opportunity into a success story, the state was the first to translate agricultural technology into the "green revolution", recording highest growth rate in food production. From a minor producer it emerged a major rice surplus state. Providing the momentum for the "White revolution", during Operation Flood, it was Punjab that recorded the highest per capita availability of milk.
More on Punjab
Universities of Punjab
Temples of Punjab
Punjabi Wedding
Punjabi Literature
Punjabi Receipes
Punjabi Language
Punjabi Films
Punjabi Culture
Museums of Punjab
Folk Dances of Punjab
Festivals of Punjab
Districts of Punjab
Costumes of Punjab
Cities of Punjab
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