ISFCP

Punjab is derive their name from a geographical, historical, and cultural region located in the northwest of the Indian sub-continent which is “PUNJAB”. Punjab comes from the Persian words panj (five) and ab (river) and means “Land of the Five Rivers” an inland delta of five converging rivers. It was the name used for the lands to the east of the Indus River that are drained by its five tributaries (the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej). Culturally, the Punjab extends beyond this area to include parts of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, the foothills of the Himalayas, and the northern fringes of the Thar (Great Indian) Desert in Rajasthan.

Geographically, Punjab is in northwestern India and has an area of 50,362 square kilometres (19,445 sq mi). It extends from the latitudes 29.30° North to 32.32° North and longitudes 73.55° East to 76.50° East. It is bounded on the west by Pakistan, on the north by Jammu and Kashmir, on the northeast by Himachal Pradesh and on the south by Haryana and Rajasthan. Area of Punjab has been divided into three regions namely Majha, Malwa, Doaba. The holiest of Sikh shrines, the Sri Harmandir Sahib (or Golden Temple), is in the city of Amritsar and the city also houses the SGPC, the top most Sikh religious body. Punjab is a culturally enriched state as it has many elements including music such as bhangra, an extensive religious and non-religious dance tradition and folk dance, Giddhha (women cultural event) a vast range of cuisine which has become widely popular abroad, and a number of seasonal and harvest festivals such as Lohri, Basant, Vaisakhi and Teeyan, all of which are celebrated in addition to the religious festivals of India.