Punjab is a state in northern India. Forming part of the larger Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, the state is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir to the north, Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast, Rajasthan to the southwest, and the Pakistani province of Punjab to the west. The state covers an area of 50,362 square kilometers, 1.53% of India’s total geographical area. It is the 20th–largest Indian state by area. With 27,704,236 inhabitants at the 20 inhabitants at the 2011 census, Punjab is the 16th-largest state by population, comprising 22 districts. Punjabi is the most widely spoken and official language of the state. The main ethnic group is the Punjabis, with Sikhs (58%) forming the demographic majority. The state capital is Chandigarh, a Union Territory and also the capital of the neighboring state of Haryana. The five rivers from which the region took its name were Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Chenab, and Jhelum; Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas are part of the Indian Punjab.
Punjab experiences three main seasons:
Hot Season (mid-April to the end of June)
Rainy Season (early July to the end of September)
Cold Season (early December to the end of February)
Apart from these three, the state experiences transitional seasons like:
Pre-summer season (March to mid-April): This is the period of transition between winter and summer.
Post-monsoon season (September to end of November): This is the period of transition between monsoon and winter seasons.
Punjab starts experiencing mildly hot temperatures in February. However, the actual summer season commences in mid-April. The area experiences pressure variations during the summer months. The atmospheric pressure of the region remains around 987 millibar during February and it reaches 970 millibar in June.
The monsoon brings joy to the agricultural sector as farmers become very busy. Punjab’s rainy season begins in the first week of July as monsoon currents generated in the Bay of Bengal bring rain to the region.
Temperature variation is minimal in January. The mean night and day temperatures fall to 5 °C (41 °F) and 12 °C (54 °F), respectively.
The monsoon begins to reduce by the second week of September. This brings a gradual change in climate and temperature. The time between October and November is the transitional period between the monsoon and winter seasons. Weather during this period is generally fair and dry.
The effects of winter diminish by the first week of March. The hot summer season commences in mid-April. This period is marked by occasional showers with hail storms and squalls that cause extensive damage to crops. The winds remain dry and warm during the last week of March, commencing the harvest period.
Monsoon season provides most of the rainfall for the region. Punjab receives rainfall from the monsoon current of the Bay of Bengal. This monsoon current enters the state from the southeast in the first week of July.
The winter season remains very cool with temperatures falling below freezing at some places. Winter also brings in some western disturbances. Rainfall in the winter provides relief to the farmers as some of the winter crops in the region of Shivalik Hills are entirely dependent on this rainfall. As per meteorological statistics, the sub-Shivalik area receives more than 100 millimeters (3.9 in) of rainfall in winter.
The culture of Punjab is the richest culture in the world. The dance style has four flavors Bhangra, Giddha, Kikli, and Sammi. The traditional dress of people is Kurta –a Pajama with a turban for men. Women prefer Patiala suits as part of their traditional attire. The people have kindness and faithfulness in their hearts. The word ’’SEWA’’ that used to refer to ‘’selfless service’’ or ‘’Free voluntary service’’perfomed without any thought of reward or personal benefit. You will find Sikhs engaged in free service in gurudwaras washing floors, cleaning, serving food working on community langar period, etc.
The cuisine of Punjab has a great variety of mouthwatering vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes. The main traditional Punjabi food is – Sarson ka saag, Makki di roti, Shahi paneer, Dal Makhni, Rajma, Chole, Tandoori chicken, Naan, Phulka, Papad, Lassi, Kheer, Rabri.
Punjabis are renowned for their utmost interest in arts and crafts. 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 design. Old famous crafts of the region include lacquer work, wooden work, calico painting, Paper mache, and many more, wooden furniture is beautifully crafted by artists with exquisite Craftmanship.
Rauza Sharif Urs is celebrated in memory of Sufi Saint Sheikh Ahmed Farooqi Sirhindi who was a disciple of Khawaja Baqi Billah. The fair takes place on the Fategarh Sahib-Bassi Pathan road in Fatehgarh Sahib.
Annual three-day Shaheedi Jor Mela is held at Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdwara in memory of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh. Processions are taken out and Sikh games are displayed in the three-day Mela.
The Mela showcases traditional Punjabi culture at the Jaipal Theme Village inside the Bathinda Sports Stadium. The mela also involves heritage walks from Gurdwara Haji Rattan to Jaipalgarh theme village.
Baba Farid, a 12th-century Sufi Saint, visited Faridkot, named after him. The fair is at Gurdwara Tilla Baba Farid and includes cultural and sporting events.
The mela takes place every year between 19 September and 23 September, Evolving from its spiritual origin associated with the visit of the Sufi Prophet, the festival has now become all pervasive embracing cultural, literary, intellectual, and sports spheres of the people of this region. In the true Sufi tradition of its founder saint, the festival has inherited the gospel of Humanism, Communal Harmony and National Integration is the conspicuous theme of the Aagman Purb.
Local fairs are held in various places on Basant. The ruler of Kapurthala princely state, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, started the Basant Panchami fair in its 97th year (2014). People attend the fair at Shalamar Bagh wearing yellow clothes and turbans. In Hoshiarpur, a fair is held at the Boeli of Baba Bhandari where thousands of men, women, and children participate and pay obeisance at the samadhi of martyr Dharamvir Hakikat Rai. Basant in the Punjab is associated with Hakikat Rai who laid down his life to fight for the right of people to follow their religion of choice At the fair held at the Boeli of Baba Bhandari, it is customary to hold kite flying competitions.
Started in 2003, the festival takes place in Patiala in the Qila Mubarak Complex and lasts for ten days. The festival includes the Crafts Mela, Indian classical music (vocal and instrumental), and dance concerts.
The Baba Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Heritage Festival is held by the Kapurthala Heritage Trust, in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage and supported by the Government of Punjab. The festival takes place at Jagatjit Palace and centers on classical music, dance, and theatre.
The festival showcases Bhangra, Giddha, Gatka Troupes, Horses and Elephants. The cultural programmes include Shabad kirtan, Theatre, Music, and Dance.
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