Fair and Festival of Punjab
1. Maghi Mela – Muktsar
2. Fair of Light – Jagraon, Ludhiana
3. Jarag Mela – Pail Village, Ludhiana
4. Kisan Mela – PAU, Ludhiana
5. Rural Olympic – Kila Raipur, Ludhiana
6. Chhapar Mela – Ludhiana
7. Mela Gadri Babian Da – Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall, Jalandhar
8. Baba Sodal Mela – Jalandhar Harballabh
9. Classical Music Fest – Devi Talab Temple, Jalandhar
10. Hola Mohalla – Shri Anandpur Sahib
11. Urs of Sheikh Ahmed, Rauza Sarif – Sirhind
12. Shaheedi Jor Mela – Sirhind
13. Shaikh Farid Fair – Faridkot
14. Vaisakhi Fair – Talwandi Sabo, Amritsar
FOLK DANCES OF PUNJAB
The exuberance and vitality of the people of Punjab are vigorously displayed in their folk dances. The moves are full of expression, gestures, vocal remarks, subtleties of motion and uninhibited freedom – it is a dance from the heart! With the drum beat or to the tune of some other instrument of folk music, the energetic feet of the people of Punjab are spontaneously set to give into inhibition and give instant birth to a folk dance – an expression of the triumphant soul; an outburst of emotions; a sudden release of energy. The dances of Punjab are the clear depiction of the energy and enthusiasm of the lively youth of Punjab. The style of Punjabi dances ranges from very high energy to slow and reserved and there are specific styles for men and women. Some of the dances are secular while others are presented in religious contexts. The dances are typically performed at times of celebration, such as Harvest (Baisakhi), Weddings, Melas, like Lohri, Maghi etc., at which everyone is encouraged to dance. Married Punjabi couples usually dance together. The husband dances in the style of male Punjabi dances, frequently with arms raised and the wife dances in the style of female Punjabi dances.
The list of major folk dances of Punjab:
Bhangra
Originally, Punjabi’s performed Bhangra to celebrate the success of the harvest. Now people perform Bhangra
at wedding parties, receptions, birthdays, competitions and other happy occasions. In the villages, people
circle with large drums called dhols. Persons of all types of social classes perform Bhangra together. Even the
elders occasionally join the young to celebrate and dance Bhangra.
Giddha
Giddha is Punjabi’s most famous folk dance for women. In Giddha, the women enact verses called bolis, folk
poetry and dance. The subject matter of these bolis include everything from arguments with the father-in-law
to political affairs. The dance rhythm is set by the dhols and the distinctive hand claps of the dancers. These
days, people associate Giddha with Bhangra.
Jhumar
This dance, originally from Pakistan, is very much a part of Punjabi’s folk heritage. It is a graceful dance
based on a Jhumar rhythm. Dancers circle around the drummer and sing graceful lyrics as they dance.
Luddi
This is a victory dance where people do special movements of their hands. The costume is a simple loose
shirt. The dancers put one hand on their backs and the other hand in front of their faces. The body movement
is sinuous, snake-like. There is also a drummer in the center of the dance.
Dankara
Also called the Gatka Dance, this is a dance of celebration. Two men each holding colorful staves, in rhythm
with the drums dance round each other and tap their sticks together. This dance is often part of marriage
celebrations.
Julli
Muslim holymen, called Pirs, perform this dance. Generally they dance in their hermitages (Khangahs). People
perform the dance while sitting. Sometimes they dance around the preceptor’s grave. Normally the dancer
wears black.
Sammi
Traditionally women of the Sandhalbar region, now in Pakistan, perform Sammi. The dancers dress in bright
coloured kurtas and full flowing skirts called lehngas. A particular silver hair ornaments is associated with
this dance.
Dhamal
Similar to Bhangra, men dance in circle.
Jaago
Literally Jaago means wake up! When there is a marriage in the house, girls dance through the village streets
carrying a pot (gaggar) decorated with lightened candles and sing Jaago songs. The themes of the songs are
social and usually a bit of teasing, often aimed at elders, goes with the song.
Kikli
Women perform this dance in pairs. They cross their arms, hold each other’s hands and whirl around singing
folk songs. Sometimes four girls join hands to perform this dance.
Gatka
Gatka is a Sikh martial art in which people use swords, sticks and daggers. People believe that Guru
Hargobind Sahib started the art of Gatka after the martyrdom of fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev. Wherever
there is a large Khalsa Sikh population, there will be Gatka participants, which can consist of small children
and adults. These participants usually perform Gatka on special holidays such as Baisakhi and Gurpurb.
Musical Instruments in Punjab
Garah: The simple earthen pitcher serves as a musical instrument in a number of folk songs. The garah
player strikes its sides with rings worn on fingers of one hand and also plays on its open mouth with the other
hand to produce a distinct rhythmic beat.
Toomba: Toomba is a famous folk instrument of Punjab, which is entirely based on Iktara used by legend
singers. Now it’s been adopted by a number of Punjabi folk singers. Toomba is made of wooden sticks
mounted with a Toomba or wooden resonator covered with skin. A metallic string is passed on a resonator
over a bridge and tied to the key at the end of the stick. The string is struck with a finger or sometimes with
the Mizrab and the Swaras are made by pressing the string to the stick.
Dhol: Dhol is a favorite folk instrument of Punjab. It is a percussion instrument, which is used not only at
male dance performances but also during social rituals and festive celebrations. The drummer is called Dholi
and Bharaj. The dhol is a barrel-shaped wooden drum with a mounted skin on both sides. It is played with
two different types of wooden sticks. The skin on either side is tightened at a different pitch.
Dhad: Dhad is a small percussion instrument of the Damru style. Held in one hand, it is struck on either
side, with the other hand holding the skinned sides vertically or horizontally. This instrument has been very
popular with the Dhadies, who sing traditional ballads of brave warriors and heroes drawn from history.
Chimta: This is a percussion twang-type instrument used in Punjab and neighbouring areas. The tradition of
playing it with songs goes back to the Naths or Jogis. This instrument consists of two long, flat pieces of iron
with pointed ends and rings mounted on it. The joint is held in one hand, while the two parts are struck with
each other to produce tinkling sounds. Chimta has become popular in professional singing and devotional
music in temples.
Sarangi: Sarangi is a popular bowed instrument in Punjab. It is wooden instrument about two feet long, cut
from a single log covered with parchment. A bridge is placed in the middle. The sides of the Sarangi are
pinched so as to how it. The instrumental usually has three major strings of varying thickness and the fourth
string is made of brass, used for drone. Modern sarangis contain 35-40 sympathetic strings running under
the main strings. This is used for accompaniment by artists and is an ideal instrument for producing all types
of Gamks and Meens.
Bugdhu: This is a stringed instrument made of dried gourd (Ghia). A piece of skin is mounted on one side of
the hollowed gourd while the other side is kept open. A gut string (Tand) is crossed through the centre of the
skin and a small piece of wood is tied to the end of the string, which passes through the body of the gourd. To
maintain a drum-like rhythm, the string is stretched or loosened while playing.
Algoza: Algoza consists of a pair of wooden flutes. It is also called Jori (a pair) and is played by one person
using only three fingers on each side. Folk singers of Punjab use this in their traditional legend singing like
Mirza, Chhalla, Jugni etc. The instrument is also used as accompaniment with folk dances.
Important Museums in Punjab
1. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum – Amritsar.
2. Anglo Sikh War Memorial – Ferozepur
3. Sanghol Museum – Fatehgarh Sahib
4. Rural Museum – Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
5. Govt. Museum – Hoshiarpur
6. Guru Teg Bahadur Museum – Anandpur Sahib
7. Museum of Armory & Chandeliers, Qila Mubarak – Patiala
8. Sports Museum – National Institute of Sports Patiala
9. Art Gallery – Shish Mahal, Patiala
Important Forts in Punjab
1. Gobindgarh Fort- Amritsar
2. Bathinda Fort – Bathinda
3. Qila Mubark – Faridkot Fort
4. Qila Mubark – Patiala
5. Anandpur Sahib Fort – Rupnagar
6. Phillaur Fort – Ludhiana
7. Shahpur Kandi Fort – Pathankot.
Archaeological Sites in Punjab
Evidence of Harappan Culture – Ropar
Dholbaha – Hoshiarpur
Sanghol – Fatehgarh Sahib
Father of Punjabi Literature
Khwaja Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar (Also Known as Baba Farid)
Punjabi Qisse
Heer Ranjha – Waris Shah
Sohani Mahiwal – Fazal Shah
Mirza Sahiba – Hafiz Barkhurdar
Sashi Punnu – Shah Hussian
Pooran Bhagat – Qadarya
Panj Takht
Akal Takht Sahib – Amritsar (Oldest Takht)
Takht Sri Damdama Sahib – Talwandi (Guru ki kashi)
Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib – Anandpur Sahib
Takht Sri Hazur Sahib – Nanded (Maharastra)
Takht Sri Patna Sahib – Patna (Bihar)
Note – Takht Sri Hazur Sahib and Takht Sri Patna Sahib Construct by Maharaja Ranjit Singh
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