Province of Panjab

                             Panjab

Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 56% of the country's total population.Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir (Azad Kashmir, Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir, India) to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the south, the province of Balochistan to the southwest, the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the west, and the Islamabad Capital Territory to the north. The Punjab is home to the Punjabis and various other groups. The main languages are Punjabi and Saraiki and the dialects of Mewati and Potowari. The name Punjab derives from the Persian words Panj Five. and Ab (Water), i.e. (the) Five Waters - referring to five tributaries of the Indus River from which is also the origin of the name of "India" - these being Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, that flow through the larger Punjab.

Punjab is the most developed, most populous, and most prosperous province of Pakistan.Lahore has traditionally been the capital of Punjab for a thousand years; it is Punjab's main cultural, historical, administrative and economic center. Historically, the Punjab region has been the gateway to the Indian subcontinent for invaders who came from Greece, Central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan. Due to its stategic location, it has been part of various empires and dynasties throughout history, including the Indus Valley Civilization, Aryans, Kushans, Scythians, Greeks, Persians, Arabs, Turks, Ghaznavids, Timurids, Mughals, Afghans, Sikhs and the British.

The Greeks referred to Punjab as Pentapotamia, an inland delta of five converging rivers. In Avesta, the sacred text of Zoroastrians, the Punjab region is associated with the ancient hapta h?ndu or Sapta Sindhu, the Land of Seven Rivers.The British used to call Punjab "Our Prussia."

History of Punjab

Punjab during Mahabharata times was known as Panchanada. Punjab was the cradle of the Indus Valley Civilization, more than 4000 years old. The main site of the Indus Valley Civilization in Punjab was the city of Harrapa. The Indus Valley Civilization spanned much of what is today Pakistan and eventually evolved into the Indo-Aryan civilization. The arrival of the Indo-Aryans led to the flourishing of the Vedic civilization along the length of the Indus River. This civilization shaped subsequent cultures in South Asia and Afghanistan. Although the archaeological site at Harappa was partially damaged in 1857 when engineers constructing the Lahore-Multan railroad used brick from the Harappa ruins for track ballast, an abundance of artifacts have nevertheless been found. Punjab was part of the great ancient empires including the Gandhara Mahajanapadas, Mauryas, Kushans and Hindu Shahi. Agriculture flourished and trading cities (such as Multan and Lahore) grew in wealth. The Aryans invaded Punjab between 1500 B.C. and 500 B.C.; they called Punjab Arya-Varta, or the land of Arya. The Rig Vedas are also supposed to have been written in Punjab.

Due to its location, the Punjab region came under constant attack and influence from the west. Invaded by the Persians, Greeks, Kushans, Scythians, Turks, and Afghans, Punjab witnessed centuries of bitter bloodshed. Its legacy is a unique culture that combines Zorastrian[citation needed], Hindu, Buddhist, Persian[citation needed], Central Asian[citation needed], Islamic, Afghan, Sikh, and British elements. The city of Taxila, founded by son of Taksh the son Bharat who was the brother of Ram. It was reputed to house the oldest university in the world[citation needed], Takshashila University, one of the teachers was the great Vedic thinker and politician Chanakya. Taxila was a great centre of learning and intellectual discussion during the Maurya Empire. It is a UN World Heritage site, valued for its archaeological and religious history.

Culture

Punjab has been the cradle of civilization since times immemorial. The ruins of Harappa show an advanced urban culture that flourished over 8000 years ago. Taxila, another historic landmark also stands out as a proof of the achievements of the area in learning, arts and crafts. The ancient Hindu Katasraj temple and the Salt Range temples are regaining attention and much-needed repair.

The structure of a mosque is simple and it expresses openness. Calligraphic inscriptions from the Koran decorate mosques and mausoleums in Punjab. The inscriptions on bricks and tiles of the mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam (1320 AD) at Multan are outstanding specimens of architectural calligraphy. The earliest existing building in South Asia with enamelled tile-work is the tomb of Shah Yusuf Gardezi (1150 AD) at Multan. A specimen of the sixteenth century tile-work at Lahore is the tomb of Sheikh Musa Ahangar, with its brilliant blue dome. The tile-work of Emperor Shah Jahan is of a richer and more elaborate nature. The pictured wall of Lahore Fort is the last line in the tile-work in the entire world.

Punjab Culture & History:

Punjab Arts and Crafts Arts and crafts in Punjab are of two types, either folk crafts, found primarily in rural areas, comprised of cotton textiles, basketry, and embroidery etc…,or royal crafts found in urban areas, particularly in Lahore, where tile, handcrafted woodwork, hand carved ivory and bone, ‘naqqashis’, architectural crafts, as well as silver and gold hand filigreed jewelry are made. Lahore is the center for hand knotted carpets that are still made in keeping with the same traditions since the Mughal period. Colorful silk and cotton fabrics, like the khaddar cloth of Kamalia, are popular, and still woven on handlooms, either block printed, or beautifully embroidered with fine details by hand.  Multan is most famous for its hand woven bed covers and handmade leather sandals with gorgeous bead work and ornate designs. Every village and many markets have potters that can be seen working and producing the same traditional vessels, jugs, cups, and containers as their ancestors did centuries ago.  Multan is known for its blue glazed pottery that can be traced back to Persian influence of the 13th century, hand painted using the same constituents of their predecessors to produce the illustrious colors uniquely produced from this area.  Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur and Gujrat also produces pottery fired in hand made earthen kilns and colorfully painted. Chiniot is especially known for its hand hewn woodwork a trade that has been past down from generation to generation. Their work is often inlaid with brass, bone, ivory, and semi precious stones from the mountains.  In addition to royal crafts, and carpets, Lahore has many metal designers working with copper, brass and iron producing unique furniture and decorative items. Graphic Arts, and landscape paintings continue to be produced as well as more complex modern trends. The main art centers in the province are Al-Hamra, the National College of Arts, Fine Arts Department of the Punjab University and the Lahore Art Gallery, all located in Lahore.