Amritsar: The Punjabi People and Culture

The people of Amritsar have a rich and turbulent history. The culture of the people of Amritsar and the province of Punjab is interwoven with the struggles of the Hindus against the onslaught of marauding Pathans, Mughals and the British tyranny. The Sikh religion was born to defend the Hindus. The five essentials in the gear donned by the warring faction of the Sikhs, the Jats signify preparedness for combat. The Go-getter Hardworking Punjabi. The region of Amritsar and Gurdaspur is called Majha or the heartland. Amritsar has always occupied the center stage in the Majha region and been aptly named as the Mukut Mani, the Jewel in the Crown. The region is not as fertile as the Doaba region of Jalandhar and Kapurthala. Punjabis, the name for people of Punjab, are the most successful community in India. The people of the Amritsar region are hardworking farmers, traders and weavers. The tough and unforgiving terrain has taught them to garner the best from available resources. The Martial Race. Amritsar has been the pivot point of the Sikh religion and Punjab politics. The first Sikh army was raised here and even today this region contributes the maximum volunteers to the Indian Army. The people have been quick to form resistance movements; the Akali, Kooka movements in the Indian freedom struggle against the British and the call for Khalistan by Bhinderanwale originated in this city. The brave and carefree culture of soldiering is the second nature for the people of Amritsar. The most essential quality of the people apart from soldiering is their hospitable and friendly nature. A visit to the rustic villages and you will promptly get scores of invitation to savor the famous Tandoori Chicken and home made sugarcane wine or the Makki Ki Roti and Sarson Ka Saag, a meal of corn flour pancakes and a dish prepared with mustard leaves and stems. The Cultural Hub. Amritsar has immensely contributed to the Punjabi literature and folk culture. It has standardized the Punjabi language. The early journey towards formal education has given it many writers and poets of repute. Festivals in Amritsar. The major festivals are Lohri, Holi and Vaisakhi. Lohri is celebrated on the 13th of January as the end of winter and the harvesting season. The next day is the first day of the Sikh month and is celebrated with offerings to Gurudwaras and the needy. Baisakhi is the end of year for the Sikhs and is celebrated on the 13th of July. It is the festival of celebrations, of dance and signifies wealth and prosperity. It is believed that the dance form Bhangra, now popularized by the Punjabi singers all over the world, originated as an expression of gratitude to the mother earth during Vaisakhi. The people of Amritsar are known to be quite vociferous in expressing their emotions. The marriages and festivals are the occasions for celebrations. The girls perform the dance called Giddha making fun of the groom and his parents. The boys perform the Bhangra. The death of a relative is another occasion for the show of emotions when the ladies do ‘Syappa’ or ritualistic weeping. The city is not just ‘Syappa’ or ‘Giddha’, or the Tandoori Chicken, it is the art of living a full life, it is the attitude; Amritsar is an ideal fusion of the traditional and the modern.