PUNJABI CULTURE

Sofia Panagiotakis
Geography
 Punjab is a state of India located in the northwestern
part of the subcontinent.
 The word “Punjab” is a compound of two Persian
words; “panj” which means “five” and “ab” which
means “water” thus signifying the land of the five rivers.
 Wheat, millet, barley, cotton and sugarcane are grown.
Punjabi Language
 Punjabi is the official state language.
 Along with Hindu, it is most widely spoken.
 However, many people also speak English and
Urdu.
 Punjabi Religion

 The majority of people in Punjabi follow the Sikhism

religion.
 Under the Sikhism religion, the Punjabis believe in an
ultimate God who is invisible yet present in every form
of life. Guru Nank, who spread the message of love and
peace through his scriptures, is considered to be the
leader of Sikhism.
 The Punjabi people are required to meditate, and praise
the ultimate God by reciting kirtans. Kirtans are chants
that are said throughout the meditations that are usually
 Punjabi Clothing
 Punjabi girls and women wear
salwarkameez's with bright
colored duppattas.
 Men and boys generally wear
loose pants or slacks with a
collared shirt or t-shirt.
 Some males also wear the kurta
pajama, an Indian shirt and pant
outfit, especially the Punjabi
farme.r
 On their head, many Sikhs also
wear bhuggs, or turbins.
 Panjabi Cuisine
 The cuisine of punjab can be
vegetarian and non-
vegetarian.
 One commonality between all
punjabi dishes is the liberal
usage of ghee or clarified
butter.
 Most punjabi food is eaten
with either rice or roti (a
small flour based bread).
 Dishes are usually prepared
with onions, garlic, ginger
Punjabi Dance and Music
 Punjab has a rich tradition of folk songs and
dances. There are songs for every occasion, be it a
marriage, birth of a baby or the harvesting season.
 Both men and women participate in this rhythmic
and energetic dances and songs.
Punjabi Crafts
 Women in Punjab traditionally practice the craft of
needlework on bedspreads, garments and other
textile products.
 Punjab also has the craft tradition of hand woven
dhurries (cotton floor spreads).
 Family Structure

 Kinship plays a vital role in the

social and cultural life of the
people of Punjab.
 The family system is very
authoritative. Responsibility for
the household, maintenance, and
social relations falls upon the
father.
 The relationship between a
brother and a sister is the warmest
Punjabi Communication and
Respect
 Bow and hold your palms
together when greeting
instead of shaking the hand.
 Female Punjabis don’t like
to be met with a kiss.
 Try not to wink, particularly
at women and children.
 When visiting temples, you
must remove your shoes ad
wear something on your
head to show respect.
Education
 Education in Punjabi is free for children between
the ages of six to eleven years old.
 Secondary education is also free in state schools.
 There are over two hundred specialized colleges
and institutions.
 Teaching Strategies

 Allow students time to adjust to classmates.

 Incorporate diversity and differences.
 Use technology to help the student feel more comfortable
 Give students a job in the classroom so they feel
important and helpful.
 Teachers must understand that when it comes to
communicating with parents, they must be aware that the
father of the family will be in control and it is the father
that the teacher will most likely communicate with.