59-661: The Janjua or Janjhua is a Punjabi Rajput clan found predominantly in the Pothohar Plateau of Pakistani Punjab , but also in the states of Punjab and Haryana in India . The Janjuas had engaged in a long-running struggle for sovereignty over the Salt Range . The history of this region (the Salt Range) from the thirteenth century onward had been a sickening record of wars between Janjua and Gakhars for political ascendancy. In
118-452: A heterogeneous group and were subdivided into a number of clans called biradari (literally meaning "brotherhood") or tribes , with each person bound to a clan. With the passage of time, tribal structures became replaced with a more cohesive and holistic society, as community building and group cohesiveness form the new pillars of Punjabi society. Traditionally, the Punjabi identity
177-416: A common territory, ethnicity and language, they are likely to be followers of one of several religions, most often Islam , Sikhism , Hinduism or Christianity . The term "Punjab" came into currency during the reign of Akbar in the late sixteenth century. Though the name Punjab is of Persian origin, its two parts ( پنج , panj , 'five' and آب , āb , 'water') are cognates of
236-852: A decorative scarf. Over time the phulkari pattern has taken onto embellishments onto suits, dresses, accessories and more. You will see women wearing phulkari during important religious and cultural folk celebrations (i.e.: Vaisakhi, Lohri) and then in wedding celebrations such as the Jago. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2024, February 21). Punjab. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Punjab-state-India Malhotra, A., & Mir, F. (2012). Punjab Reconsidered: History, culture, and Practice. Oxford University Press. Snehi, Y. (2013). Book review: Punjab reconsidered: History, culture and practice. Studies in History, 29(1), 155– 158. https://doi.org/10.1177/0257643013496694 Chenab River The Chenab River
295-459: A descendant of Prakrit. Punjabi emerged as an Apabhraṃśa , a degenerated form of Prakrit, in the 7th century CE and became stable by the 10th century. The earliest writings in Punjabi belong to Nath Yogi era from 9th to 14th century CE. The language of these compositions is morphologically closer to Shauraseni Apbhramsa , though vocabulary and rhythm is surcharged with extreme colloquialism and folklore. The Arabic and modern Persian influence in
354-726: A population of more than 80 million, they are the largest ethnic group in Pakistan and the world's third-largest Islam-adhering ethnicity after Arabs and Bengalis . The majority of Punjabi Muslims are adherents of Sunni Islam , while a minority adhere to Shia Islam and other sects , including the Ahmadiyya community which originated in Punjab during the British Raj . In the Indian state of Punjab , Punjabi Hindus make up approximately 38.5% of
413-408: A result of the population exchanges during partition, both parts of Punjab are now relatively homogeneous, as far as religion is concerned. Today the majority of Pakistani Punjabis follow Islam with a small Christian minority, and less Sikh and Hindu populations, while the majority of Indian Punjabis are either Sikhs or Hindus with a Muslim minority. Punjab is also the birthplace of Sikhism and
472-480: Is the fifth- largest religion in the world . The Sikhs form a majority of close to 58% in the modern day Punjab, India . Gurmukhi is the writing script used by Sikhs and for scriptures of Sikhism . It is used in official documents in parts of India and elsewhere. The tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh (1666 – 1708) established the Khalsa Brotherhood, and set for them a code of conduct. Most of
531-585: Is 110 million as noted in the 2017 Pakistan census, ethnic Punjabis comprise approximately 44.7% of the national population. With an estimated national population of 252 million in 2024, ethnic Punjabis thus number approximately 112.8 million in Pakistan; this makes Punjabis the largest ethnic group in Pakistan by population. Religious homogeneity remains elusive as a predominant Sunni population with Shia , Ahmadiyya and Christian minorities. The Punjabi-speaking people make up 2.74% of India's population as of 2011. The total number of Indian Punjabis
590-508: Is a major river that flows in India and Pakistan , and is one of the 5 major rivers of the Punjab region. It is formed by the union of two headwaters, Chandra and Bhaga , which rise in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh , India. The Chenab flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir , India, into the plains of Punjab , Pakistan, before ultimately flowing into
649-524: Is primarily linguistic, geographical and cultural. Its identity is independent of historical origin or religion and refers to those who reside in the Punjab region or associate with its population and those who consider the Punjabi language their mother tongue. Integration and assimilation are important parts of Punjabi culture, since Punjabi identity is not based solely on tribal connections. While Punjabis share
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#1732848325326708-1066: Is spoken among a significant overseas diaspora , particularly in Canada , the United States, and the United Kingdom . In Pakistan, Punjabi is written using the Shahmukhi alphabet , based on the Perso-Arabic script ; in India, it is written using the Gurmukhi alphabet , based on the Indic scripts . Punjabi is unusual among the Indo-Aryan languages and the broader Indo-European language family in its usage of lexical tone . Punjabi developed from Prakrit languages and later Apabhraṃśa ( Sanskrit : अपभ्रंश , 'deviated' or 'non-grammatical speech') From 600 BCE, Sanskrit
767-464: Is unknown due to the fact that ethnicity is not recorded in the Census of India . Sikhs are largely concentrated in the modern-day state of Punjab forming 57.7% of the population with Hindus forming 38.5%. Ethnic Punjabis are believed to account for at least 40% of Delhi's total population and are predominantly Hindi -speaking Punjabi Hindus . The Indian censuses record the native languages, but not
826-643: Is witnessed in Alberuni . The river is formed by the confluence of two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga, at Tandi, 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Keylong , in the Lahaul and Spiti district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh . The Bhaga river originates from Surya taal lake, which is situated a few kilometers west of the Bara-lacha la pass in Himachal Pradesh. The Chandra river originates from glaciers east of
885-584: The British Raj . The vast majority were converted from the Hindu Chura communities of Punjab, and to a lesser extent Mazhabi Sikhs ; under the influence of enthusiastic army officers and Christian missionaries. Large numbers of Mazhabi Sikhs were also converted in the Moradabad district and the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh . Rohilkhand saw a mass conversion of its entire population of 4500 Mazhabi Sikhs into
944-502: The Indian subcontinent , comprising areas of eastern Pakistan and northwestern India . The boundaries of the region are ill-defined and focus on historical accounts. The geographical definition of the term "Punjab" has changed over time. In the 16th century Mughal Empire it referred to a relatively smaller area between the Indus and the Sutlej rivers. While the total population of Punjab
1003-662: The Indus River . The Battle of Chenab was fought between Sikhs and Afghans on the bank of the river. The waters of the Chenab were allocated to Pakistan under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty . India is allowed non-consumptive uses such as power generation. The Chenab River is extensively used in Pakistan for irrigation. Its waters are also transferred to the channel of the Ravi River via numerous link canals. The Chenab river
1062-757: The Kishtwar , Doda , Ramban , Reasi and Jammu districts . It enters Pakistan and flows through the Punjab province before emptying into the Sutlej, forming the Panjnad river . The river was known to Indians in the Vedic period. In 325 BCE, Alexander the Great allegedly founded the town of Alexandria on the Indus (present-day Uch Sharif or Mithankot or Chacharan in Pakistan) at the confluence of
1121-560: The Methodist Church . Sikh organisations became alarmed at the rate of conversions among high caste Sikh families, and as a result, they responded by immediately dispatching Sikh missionaries to counteract the conversions. Punjabi culture grew out of the settlements along the five rivers, which served as an important route to the Near East as early as the ancient Indus Valley civilisation , dating back to 3000 BCE. Agriculture has been
1180-488: The Phulkari . The phulkari is folk embroidery that was typically inclusive of work in floral patterns but has taken on a larger aspect of including geometrical shapes, symbols and motifs relevant to the culture. This pattern has been worn by women for hundreds of years in very vibrant colours. The pattern is typically stitched with woven silk and colourful thread. The phulkari pattern is adorned onto dupattas/chunis, better known as
1239-488: The Punjab region , comprising areas of northwestern India and eastern Pakistan . They generally speak Standard Punjabi or various Punjabi dialects on both sides. Majority of the overall Punjabi population adheres to Islam with significant minorities practicing Sikhism and Hinduism and smaller minorities practicing Christianity . However, the religious demographics significantly vary when viewed from Pakistani and Indian sides, respectively, with over 95 percent of
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#17328483253261298-518: The Sanskrit words, पञ्च , pañca , 'five' and अप् , áp , 'water', of the same meaning. The word pañjāb thus means 'The Land of Five Waters', referring to the rivers Jhelum , Chenab , Ravi , Sutlej , and Beas . All are tributaries of the Indus River , the Sutlej being the largest. References to a land of five rivers may be found in the Mahabharata , which calls one of
1357-589: The Yamuna and Ganges rivers. An ancient Indian law book called the Manusmriti , developed by Brahmin Hindu priests, shaped Punjabi religious life from 200 BC onward. Later, the spread of Buddhisim and Jainism in the Indian subcontinent saw the growth of Buddhism and Jainism in the Punjab. Islam was introduced via southern Punjab in the 8th century, becoming the majority by the 16th century, via local conversion. There
1416-471: The colonial period of India became Christians, with all of these religions characterising the religious diversity now found in the Punjab region. Due to religious tensions, emigration between Punjabi people started far before the partition and dependable records. Shortly prior to the Partition of India , Punjab Province (British India) had a slight majority Muslim population at about 53.2% in 1941, which
1475-811: The 16th century, the Mughal Emperor Humayun was usurped by the Pashtun king Sher Shah Suri , who constructed the Rohtas Fort in Punjab to check Humayun's entry into Hindustan , and also to keep a check on the local tribes including Gakhars as well as Janjuas. The expansion of the Sikh Empire , spearheaded by Ranjit Singh , was met with a rebellion by the Janjua Sultan of Watli, Sultan Fateh Muhammad Khan. A six-month siege of Kusuk Fort in Watli followed and this
1534-482: The 1947 partition, millions of Punjabi Hindus (including Hindkowan Hindus and Saraiki Hindus ) migrated from West Punjab and North-West Frontier Province , of which many ultimately settled in Delhi. Determined from 1991 and 2015 estimates, Punjabi Hindus form approximately 24 to 35 per cent of Delhi's population; based on 2011 official census counts, this amounts to between 4,029,106 and 5,875,779 people. Following
1593-614: The British saw in them, with their traditional and historical enmity against the Sikhs, an effective counterpoise against the latter." The Janjua rebellion against the Sikh Empire was a political rebellion, as the Janjua were initially keen allies to the Sukerchakia Misl . During the nineteenth century, they were listed as a martial race . During this period, due to their high aristocratic status,
1652-646: The Chamar and are traditionally linked to leather-related occupations. Proto- Hinduism is the oldest of the religions practised by the Punjabi people. The historical Vedic religion constituted the religious ideas and practices in the Punjab during the Vedic period (1500–500 BCE), centered primarily in the worship of Indra . The bulk of the Rigveda was composed in the Punjab region between circa 1500 and 1200 BC, while later Vedic scriptures were composed more eastwards, between
1711-549: The Indus and the combined streams of Punjab rivers (currently known as the Panjnad River ). Arrian , in the Anabasis of Alexander , quotes the eyewitness Ptolemy Lagides as writing that the river was 2 miles wide where Alexander crossed it. The river has rich power generation potential in India. There are many dams built, under construction or proposed to be built on the Chenab for the purpose of hydroelectric power generation in
1770-492: The Janjuas refused to serve in any regiment that was not commanded by either a Janjua or another commander of equal social standing. This preference was honoured by the British when selecting regiments for them. Punjabis Europe North America Oceania The Punjabis ( Punjabi : پنجابی ( Shahmukhi ) ; ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ( Gurmukhi ) ; romanised as Panjābī ) are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group associated with
1829-729: The New York and New Jersey region). In the 1970s, a large wave of emigration of Punjabis (predominately from Pakistan) began to the Middle East, in places such as the UAE , Saudi Arabia and Kuwait . There are also large communities in East Africa including the countries of Kenya , Uganda and Tanzania . Punjabis have also emigrated to Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia including Malaysia , Philippines , Thailand , Singapore and Hong Kong. Of recent times many Punjabis have also moved to Italy. Among
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1888-411: The Punjab is also a region that over the centuries has experienced many foreign invasions and consequently has a long-standing history of warfare, as the Punjab is situated on the principal route of invasions through the northwestern frontier of the Indian subcontinent, which promoted to adopt a lifestyle that entailed engaging in warfare to protect the land. Warrior culture typically elevates the value of
1947-458: The Punjabi population from Pakistan being Muslim , with a small minority of Christians and Hindus and an even smaller minority of Sikhs . Over 57 percent of the population of the Indian state of Punjab is Sikh and over 38 percent Hindu with a small minority of Muslims and Christians. The ethnonym is derived from the term Punjab (Five rivers) in Persian to describe the geographic region of
2006-885: The SCs nationally, official data show. Of more than 35 designated Scheduled Castes in the state, the Mazhabis, the Ravidasias/Ramdasias, the Ad Dharmis, the Valmikis, and the Bazigars together make up around 87 per cent of East Punjab's total Scheduled Caste population. The Ravidasia Hindus/Ad-Dharmi and the Ramdasia Sikhs together constitute 34.93 per cent of East Punjab's total Scheduled Caste population and 11.15 per cent of Punjab Population. Ramdasia , Ad-Dharmi and Ravidassias are subgroups of
2065-408: The community's honour ( izzat ), which is highly esteemed by Punjabis. Punjabi, sometimes spelled Panjabi, is an Indo-Aryan language natively spoken by the Punjabi people. Punjabi is the most popular first language in Pakistan, with 80.5 million native speakers as per the 2017 census , and the 11th most popular in India, with 31.1 million native speakers, as per the 2011 census . The language
2124-541: The country, including: All of these are " run-of-the-river " projects as per the Indus Water Treaty of 1960. The Treaty allocates the waters of Chenab to Pakistan. India can use its water for domestic and agricultural uses or for "non-consumptive" uses such as hydropower . India is entitled to store up to 1.2 million acre-feet (1.5 billion cubic metres ) of water in its projects. The three projects completed as of 2011 , Salal, Baglihar and Dul Hasti, have
2183-524: The descent of the citizens. Thus, there is no concrete official data on the ethnic makeup of Delhi and other Indian states. Indian Punjab is also home to small groups of Muslims and Christians. Most of the East Punjab 's Muslims left for West Punjab in 1947. However, a small community still exists today, mainly in Qadian , and Malerkotla . The Punjabi people have emigrated in large numbers to many parts of
2242-506: The historical Punjab region began with the late first millennium Muslim conquests on the Indian subcontinent . Many Persian and Arabic words were incorporated in Punjabi. So Punjabi relies heavily on Persian and Arabic words which are used with a liberal approach to language. After the fall of the Sikh empire, Urdu was made the official language of Punjab (in Pakistani Punjab, it is still
2301-414: The large scale exodus that took place during the 1947 partition, there remains a small Punjabi Hindu community in Pakistan today. According to the 2017 Census , there are about 200,000 Hindus in Punjab province, forming approximately 0.2% of the total population. Much of the community resides in the primarily rural South Punjab districts of Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur where they form 3.12% and 1.12% of
2360-521: The major castes and tribes of West Punjab (Pakistan) are the Jats , Rajputs , Arains , Gujjars and Awans . Prior to the partition in 1947 , major communities of West Punjab also included the Khatris , Aroras and Brahmins . While in East Punjab (India), Jats are almost 20 per cent of East Punjab's population. The Scheduled Castes constitute almost 32 per cent of its total population and 4.3 per cent of
2419-474: The major economic feature of the Punjab and has therefore formed the foundation of Punjabi culture, with one's social status being determined by landownership. The Punjab emerged as an important agricultural region, especially following the Green Revolution during the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, has been described as the "breadbasket of both India and Pakistan". Besides being known for agriculture and trade,
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2478-530: The modern Punjabi Christians are descended from converts during British rule; initially, conversions to Christianity came from the "upper levels of Punjab society, from the privileged and prestigious", including "high caste" Hindu families, as well as Muslim families. However, other modern Punjabi Christians have converted from the Chuhra group. The Churas were largely converted to Christianity in North India during
2537-411: The movement Ahmadiyya . Punjabi Muslims are found almost exclusively in Pakistan with 97% of Punjabis who live in Pakistan following Islam, in contrast to Punjabi Sikhs and Punjabi Hindus who predominantly live in India. Forming the majority of the Punjabi ethnicity in the greater Punjab region , Punjabi Muslims write the Punjabi language under the Perso-Arabic script known as Shahmukhi . With
2596-413: The northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, where five rivers Beas , Chenab , Jhelum , Ravi , and Sutlej merge into the Indus River , in addition of the now-vanished Ghaggar . The coalescence of the various tribes, castes and the inhabitants of the Punjab region into a broader common "Punjabi" identity initiated from the onset of the 18th century CE. Historically, the Punjabi people were
2655-463: The population respectively, while the rest are concentrated in urban centres such as Lahore . Punjabi Hindus in India use Nāgarī script to write the Hindi and Punjabi languages. Sikhism from Sikh , meaning a "disciple", or a "learner", is a monotheistic religion originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent during the 15th century. The fundamental beliefs of Sikhism, articulated in
2714-515: The primary official language), and influenced the language as well. Punjabis also speak several languages and dialects related to Punjabi, such as the Pothwari spoken in the Pothohar region of Northern Pakistani Punjab Kaintha The Kaintha, a traditional necklace which is usually made out of gold or steel, is an integral element of Punjabi clothing. It is adorned with a pendant that stands out from
2773-434: The region at the time. According to historical demographer Tim Dyson , in the eastern regions of Punjab that ultimately became Indian Punjab following independence, districts that were 66% Hindu in 1941 became 80% Hindu in 1951; those that were 20% Sikh became 50% Sikh in 1951. Conversely, in the western regions of Punjab that ultimately became Pakistani Punjab , all districts became almost exclusively Muslim by 1951. As
2832-505: The regions in ancient Bharat Panchanada ( Sanskrit : पञ्चनद , romanized : pañca-nada , lit. 'five rivers'). The ancient Greeks referred to the region as Pentapotamía ( Greek : Πενταποταμία ), which has the same meaning as the Persian word. Punjab is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia , specifically in the northern part of
2891-442: The rest of the necklace, which is accompanied by matching color schemes as well as yarn in the back to hold the piece together. It is worn with the Shalwar Kameez alongside a shawl, chunni, or vest. Men and women alike traditionally wear the Kaintha to the Mayian and Jaggo ceremonies. It is also commonly worn while performing the traditional Bhangra and Giddha dances Phulkari A traditional element of Punjabi clothing has been
2950-409: The river was Chandrabhaga ( Sanskrit : चन्द्रभागा ) because the river is formed from the confluence of the Chandra and the Bhaga rivers. This name was also known to the Ancient Greeks, who Hellenised it in various forms such as Sandrophagos , Sandabaga and Cantabra . The simplification of Chandrabhaga to 'Chenab', with evident Persianate influence, probably occurred in early medieval times and
3009-422: The sacred scripture Guru Granth Sahib , include faith and meditation on the name of the one creator, unity and equality of all humankind, engaging in selfless service , striving for social justice for the benefit and prosperity of all , and honest conduct and livelihood while living a householder's life. Being one of the youngest amongst the major world religions, with 25-28 million adherents worldwide, Sikhism
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#17328483253263068-434: The same pass (near Chandra Taal ). This pass also acts as a water-divide between these two rivers. The Chandra river transverses 115 km (71 mi) while the Bhaga river transverses 60 km (37 mi) through narrow gorges before their confluence at Tandi. The Chandra-Bhaga then flows through the Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh before entering the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir, where it flows through
3127-399: The state's population; numbering 10.7 million and are a majority in the Doaba region. Punjabi Hindus form a majority in five districts of Punjab, namely, Pathankot , Jalandhar , Hoshiarpur , Fazilka and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar districts. Punjabi Hindus also form around 32 percent of Indian State Haryana 's population and are very much influential in the state politics. During
3186-458: The world. In the early 20th century, many Punjabis began settling in the United States , including independence activists who formed the Ghadar Party . The United Kingdom has a significant number of Punjabis from both Pakistan and India. The most populous areas being London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow. In Canada (specifically Vancouver , Toronto , and Calgary ) and the United States, (specifically California's Central Valley as well as
3245-419: Was a small Jain community left in Punjab by the 16th century, while the Buddhist community had largely disappeared by the turn of the 10th century. The region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of the Punjab region. The rise of Sikhism in the 1700s saw some Punjabis, both Hindu and Muslim, accepting the new Sikh faith. A number of Punjabis during
3304-446: Was advocated as official language and Prakrit gave birth to many regional languages in different parts of India. All these languages are called Prakrit (Sanskrit: प्राकृत , prākṛta ) collectively. Paishachi , Shauraseni and Gandhari were Prakrit languages, which were spoken in north and north-western India and Punjabi developed from one of these Prakrits. Later in northern India, these Prakrits gave rise to their own Apabhraṃśa ,
3363-413: Was an increase from the previous years. Due to the partition of 1947 , a rapid shift towards religious homogeneity occurred in all districts across the Punjab region owing to the new international border that cut through the province. This rapid demographic shift was primarily due to mass migration and population exchange but also caused by large-scale religious cleansing riots that occurred across
3422-412: Was called Asikni ( Sanskrit : असिक्नी ) in the Rigveda (VIII.20.25, X.75.5). The name meant that it was seen to have dark-coloured waters. The term Krishana is also found in the Atharvaveda . A later form of Askikni was Iskamati ( Sanskrit : इस्कामति ) and the Greek form was Ancient Greek : Ἀκεσίνης – Akesínes ; Latinized to Acesines . In the Mahabharata , the common name of
3481-503: Was ended when the inhabitants ran short of water. The Kala Khan branch of Rawalpindi Janjuas fortunes were also eclipsed by the rise of the Sikh Empire. By the time the British Raj took an interest in conquering the Sikhs in 1848–49, they were joined by opportunistic tribes such as the Janjua, Gakhars who had lost control of their centuries-old ancestral kingdoms to the imperial Sikh Empire and sought revenge. Tan Tai Yong says that "Besides being impressed with their track record,
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