The land of the five rivers punjab, Punj+Aab, reminds you of richness and royalty. The lush-green state is widely famous for its rich heritage, food, tradition and culture, but more than anything else Punjab is known the most for “Punjabis”!! Their spontaneity, positivity and vibrancy is beyond imagination. The loud, boisterous, generous and full of life-‘Punjabis’ have so much to offer. Here’s a list of the ten Most Famous Things of Punjab that you must try, if you haven’t already or have just returned from Mars!

The Food

The Punjabi cuisine goes way beyond Butter chicken and naan! The buttery flavours of Sarson-ka-Saag with Makki-di-Roti, Aloo-wala-Kulcha, Maa-ki-Daal, Tandoori Chicken, all possible varieties of stuffed Paranthas, aam papad…the list is endless! Can you seriously blame them for being a ‘tad’ overweight! “We aren’t fat, hum kahte-peete ghar se hain”!

The Lassi

Though milk in all its forms is exceedingly loved in Punjab, but the lip-smacking lassi is indeed the National Drink of Punjab! Equally enjoyed in its sweet or salty avatar, the tall-glass of lassi, that too malai-maar-ke is truly irresistible.

The Language

Yes, Punjabi is something one must-must try. Thanks to the countless famous Bollywood songs, words like Kudi-Munda, Kidaan?, Khotte-da-Puttar, O Teri, Chak-de etc. etc. are commonly used all over the world and are universal favourites for a friendly banter! And its needless to say how amazingly satisfying it is to abuse in Punjabi.

The Jutties

The traditional footwear of the state is still extremely popular amongst young and old, men and women alike. The vibrant and bright handmade jutties are a grand display of beautiful patterns and designs.

The Patiala Peg

For the Punjabis, ‘Size’ matters, then why should their peg be any different. Said to be one of India’s greatest contributions to the world, the Patiala peg is considered to be a synonym to bravado and masculinity. Want to make one, keep pouring until all eyebrows are raised!

Paranda

The vibrant spirit of the punjabis is reflected in all traditional products. The robustly colourful paranda is just another example. These attractive hair-hangings are extremely important for the punjabi-mutiyaar (young-lady). Made out of silk threads, Parandas come in a variety of colours and designs.

Papad-Wadiyan & Pickles

Despite the main-course being so rich and heavy, no punjabi layout is complete without the side-dishes. The papad is a favourite munch both with food and drinks. Pickles go with all kinds of food too. Wadiyan, sun-dried nuggets, made of pulses and spices, enhance the taste in your curries. A great gift to bring back for family and friends.

Phulkari

Phulkari now isn’t limited to the Punjabi woman’s wardrobe . It is one of the most loved traditional embroideries. From Sari to dupattas, from scarves to now Indo-Western dresses, from wedding to everyday clothes, Phulkari is popular everywhere.

Jewellery

The diversity of ornaments worn by Punjabis is fascinating. It is something you must try. The ethnic maang-tika, jhumki, jugni, phumni and balliyan are a few of the must-haves.

Woolen Clothes

The woolen apparels made in Punjab are famous all over! Shawls for their intricate designs, coziness and a variety of price-range, have a huge demand in the International market as well. Different varieties of shawls like Angora, jamawar, pashmina, cashmillon, Kulu-shawls etc. are available all over Punjab especially Amritsar, Jallandhar and Ludhiana.

Writing this post, has been a nostalgic walk down the memory lane. Punjabis believe in ‘Living in the Moment’, they don’t stress too much and they have big hearts. Eating, dressing and living well is the mantra of their life.

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