Guided by – TK Palai Sir

People of Punjab and Odisha

◦Punjab ◦Odisha
The Punjabis Shahmukhi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ( The people of Odisha are
Gurmukhi); romanised as . known as Odia, an Indo-Aryan
Panjābī are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group that
ethnolinguistic group[28] primarily inhabits the eastern
associated with the Punjab region coastal state of Odisha. There
, comprising areas of are also significant minority
northwestern India and eastern populations of Odia in the
Pakistan.[29] They generally speak
neighboring states of Andhra
Standard Punjabi or various
Punjabi dialects on both sides.
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
 Food of Punjab
Punjabi food is made with ingredients that were commonly available in
the region, such as dairy products, grains, pulses, vegetables, and
meat.
Some popular Punjabi dishes include:
Butter chicken: A creamy dish with succulent meat and lots of butter
Malai lassi: A sweet and creamy drink made with malai (cream) and
flavors like mango, strawberry, and rose
Chole bhature: A dish made with spicy chole masala and a spongy
bhature
Dal makhni: A rich and creamy lentil dish made with black lentils and
red kidney beans
Paneer tikka: Cubes of paneer marinated in a spicy marinade and
skewered
Amritsari kulcha: A dish with a crispy outer layer and soft interior
stuffed with mashed potatoes, spices, and sometimes peas or paneer
Pinni: A sweet treat made with desi ghee, jaggery, and wheat flour
Food of Odisha
Abhada or Mahaprasad: Abhada or Mahaprasad is the term applied to the 56 food items offered to Lord
Jagannath in the holy Temple of Puri, located in Odisha, India. The Bhog/Naivedya offered to him and later to
Maa Bimala in the Sri Mandir and remains of that Nivedana is known as ‘Mahaprasad’.
Macha Ghanta: Immerse yourself in the gastronomic heritage of Odisha with Macha Ghanta, a tempting
fish curry prepared with a rich blend of potatoes, garlic, onions, and spices.
Dalma – A Melody of Veggies: Odisha’s Dalma offers a unique twist to the traditional dal found in other
regions of India.
Pakhala Bhata – A Summer Sipper: As the sun graces the land with its warmth, Odisha celebrates with
Pakhala Bhata. Soak cooked rice in water and sour curd, and experience this refreshing dish, served with
accompaniments like papad, fried fish, potatoes, and Badi choora during the vibrant Pakhala Dibasa
festivities.
Dahibara: It is a type of chaat (snack) from Cuttack and is popular throughout India. The dish is prepared
by soaking vadas (fried flour balls) in light dahi (yogurt) water which is tempered with mustard seeds and
curry leaves. Then adding Aludum (potato curry) and Ghugni (pea curry) to it.
Gupchup – The Street Snack Adventure: Prepare for a quick and delightful adventure with Gupchup, a
beloved snack famous across the nation.
Chhena Poda – A Sweet Symphony: Indulge your sweet tooth with Chhena Poda, a delectable treat
crafted from homemade cottage cheese and semolina. Baked to perfection with caramelized sugar, this
finger-licking dessert promises to create a symphony of flavors that resonate with each bite.
Rasabali – A Divine Dessert: Concluding our culinary expedition is Rasabali, a sweet dish originating from
Kendrapara district.Made with flavored milk and garnished with cardamoms, this heavenly dessert is offered
as part of the chappana bhogas to Lord Jagannath temple, leaving an indelible mark on your taste buds.
Literature of Punjab
Punjabi literature is a collection of works written in the Punjabi language, which is
spoken in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. Punjabi literature is written in a
variety of scripts, including Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi.
History-
Punjabi literature has a long history, dating back to the North Indian Vernacular
period and the eighth century or earlier.
Notable writers-
Some notable Punjabi writers include Bhai Vir Singh, Puran Singh, Dhani Ram
Chatrik, Amrita Pritam, Baba Balwanta, Mohan Singh, Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Charan
Singh, Nanak Singh, Gurbhaksh Singh, Devendra Satyarthi, and Kulwant Singh Virk.
Themes-
Some common themes in Punjabi literature include Sikhism and Sufism.
Awards-
The Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature is a global award that promotes Punjabi
literature by awarding $51,000 in prizes to Punjabi novels and short story
collections.
Literature of Odisha
Odia literature is a collection of texts written in the Odia language, which
originated in the Indian state of Odisha. The earliest written Odia texts
date back to around 1000 CE. The language is a combination of Tadbhava
words, Sanskrit (Tatsama) elements, and loanwords from other languages
Origins-
The origins of Odia poetry can be traced back to the Charyapadas, a form
of Buddhist mystical verses composed in the tenth century.
Medieval Odia poetry-
This period, which lasted from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries,
included kavya, Puranas, Bhajanas, Champus, chastises, and Chhandas.
Modern Odia literature-
The modern era of Odia literature began after the British occupation in
1803. Notable figures in this period include Fakir Mohan Senapati,
Radhanath Ray, Nanda Kishore Bal, and Madhusudan Rao. Fakir Mohan
Senapati is considered the pioneer of modern prose writing, and his novel
Chhamana Athaguntha is considered a world-class work.
Festivals in Punjab
Baisakhi- Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, is a spring festival that celebrates
the harvest season and the beginning of the solar New Year in parts of North
India.
Lohri – It is a popular festival in Northern India that celebrates the beginning of
the harvest season for winter crops, the end of winter, and the arrival of longer
days.
Guruparb- Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, is the most important
festival for the followers of the religion of Sikhism. It is celebrated to
commemorate the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev.
Basant panchami – In Punjab, Basant Panchami heralds the process of the end
of winter and the beginning of spring. For farmers, it signifies a preparation and
readiness for the harvesting of the crops. The yellow mustard flowers are in full
bloom and with their brightness they engulf the positivity of the human spirit.
Hola Mohalla – Hola Mohalla is a three-day Sikh festival that takes place in
Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, India. It’s celebrated in the spring, usually in March, on
the second day of the lunar month of Chett. The festival is a continuation of the
spring festival of Holi, and is celebrated the day after Holi.
Festivals in Odisha
Rajo- Rajo Festival is being celebrated in Odisha for centuries. It is an
ancient festival and its origin is a belief that is indeed powerful. It is believed
that just as a woman undergoes a menstrual cycle, the Earth does too. As
such, this time, it requires adequate rest, nurturing, and rejuvenation.
Kumar Purnima- Kumar Purnima, also known as Sharad Purnima, is a
religious festival celebrated in Odisha, India on the full moon day of the
Hindu month of Ashvin, which usually falls in October or November. It marks
the end of the monsoon season.
Kartik Purnima- Kartika Purnima, also known as Kartika Pournami, is a
Hindu, Sikh, and Jain cultural festival that is celebrated on purnima, the 15th
day of the lunar month Kartika. It falls on November or December of the
Gregorian calendar and is also known as Tripurari Purnima or Deva-
Deepavali, the gods’s festival of lights.
Rath Yatra- Ratha Yatra is a Hindu festival that involves a procession of
deities in chariots through the streets. The festival is celebrated in India,
Nepal, and other countries, and has religious, cultural, and social
significance.
Pana Sankranti- Pana Sankranti, also known as Maha Bishuba Sankranti, is
Music of Punjab
Music of Punjab reflects the traditions of the Punjab region associated with
Punjabi language. Punjab is currently divided into two parts: East Punjab, in
India, and West Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan. The Punjab
has diverse styles of music, ranging from folk and Sufi to classical, notably the
Patiala gharana. Contemporary Punjabi music has tended to include more
modern hip-hop and R&B sounds.
Gurbani Sangeet- Gurbani sangeet (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਸੰਗੀਤ), also known
as Gurmat Sangeet (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਸੰਗੀਤ), is the classical music style that
is practised with Sikhi. In this musical tradition, the Sikhs sing shabads which
are hymns written by their SatGuru in raag.
Sufi music- Sufi music includes the singing of Sufi poetry in several genres.
Some of the poets whose compositions are often sung include Baba Farid,
Bulleh Shah, Shah Hussain, Waris Shah, and Mian Muhammad Bakhsh.
Folk music- Folk music of the Punjab is the traditional music of Punjab
produced using traditional musical instruments like Tumba, Algoza, Dhadd,
Sarangi, Chimta and more. There is a wide range of folk songs for every
occasion from birth to death including marriage, festivals, fairs and religious
ceremonies.
Music of Odisha
Odissi music (Odia: ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ ସଙ୍ଗୀତ, romanized: oṛiśī sangīta, Odia: [oɽisi sɔŋgit̪ɔ] ⓘ) is a genre of
classical music in India, originated from the eastern state of Odisha. The traditional ritual music
for the service of Lord Jagannatha, Odissi music has a history spanning over two thousand years,
authentic sangita-shastras or treatises, unique Ragas & Talas and a distinctive style of rendition.
Ritual music of Jagannatha Temple- Odissi music is intimately and inextricably associated
with the Jagannatha temple of Puri. The deity of Jagannatha is at the heart of Odisha’s culture,
and Odissi music was originally the music offered as a sevā or service to Jagannatha. Every
night during the Badasinghara or the last ritual of the deity, the Gitagovinda of Jayadeva is sung,
set to traditional Odissi ragas & talas.
Charyapada and Buddhist Music- For a long period Buddhism was the major religion of
Odisha. The Vajrayana and Sahajayana branches of Buddhism were particularly influential, and
scholars opine that Odisha or Oddiyana was the birth place of Vajrayana itself. Between the
seventh and eleventh centuries, the Charya Gitika of Buddhist Mahasiddhas or Siddhacharyas
were written and composed.
Jayadeva and Gita Govinda- The Gitagovinda written by 12th-century poet Jayadeva is known
to be one of the earliest, if not the earliest Indian song where the author has indicated with
precision the exact raga and tala (mode of singing and the rhythm) of each song. This makes it
one of the earliest texts of Indian classical music. Many of the ragas indicated in the Gitagovinda
continue to be highly popular in Odissi music even now, and some of the talas mentioned in it
are exclusive to the tradition of Odissi music.
Famous Places In Punjab
Famous Places in Odisha